Since 2008, Maria Kechaidis has served as clinical director of OMNI Behavioral Health Solutions, which she co-founded in Freehold, New Jersey. Maria Kechaidis and her team frequently work with children who have developmental challenges, including those with Down syndrome.
Down syndrome is a condition that results from the presence of an extra chromosome, specifically chromosome 21. It is the most prevalent chromosomal abnormality and affects approximately one in every 700 babies born in the United States.
Children with Down syndrome tend to have reduced muscle tone and often reach gross motor milestones at an older age than their typically developing peers. Lower muscle tone levels also may lead to trouble with feeding and a predisposition to digestive upset, one of the medical conditions common in children and adults with Down syndrome. Approximately 50 percent of children with Down syndrome have a congenital heart defect and hearing or vision problems, and all children with the condition have higher risk of pulmonary hypertension.
The majority of children with Down syndrome have mild to moderate intellectual disability. They may learn more slowly than other children and are likely to be delayed in the development of personal care skills such as dressing and toilet learning. Nevertheless, given sufficient support and encouragement, they can become highly productive citizens with valuable skills, talents, and qualities.
