The Adult Down Syndrome Center is a health care clinic for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome in Park Ridge, Illinois.
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Established in 1992, the Adult Down Syndrome Center was the first and remains one of the largest clinics for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome in the United States. Part of Advocate Health Care, it is located on the campus of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. The Adult Down Syndrome Center and its providers are nationally recognized for their expertise in providing healthcare for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome. They have received awards from many organizations including the National Down Syndrome Congress, Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group, and the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians. The physicians at the Center – Brian Chicoine, MD and Erin Dominiak, MD – have been recognized as Top Doctors by Chicago Magazine and Castle Connolly. The Center engages in patient-centered research and clinical trials. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded the Center along with the University of Chicago an INCLUDE project grant. The Center was also selected as one of four Center of Excellence Sites for the Down Syndrome Clinical Trials Network launched by LuMind IDSC Foundation. The Center is also committed to sharing its knowledge and experience with others. The Center’s co-founders Brian Chicoine, MD and Dennis McGuire, PhD have published two books – Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome: A Guide to Emotional and Behavioral Strengths and Challenges and The Guide to Good Health for Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome. Staff at the Center frequently present at local and national events including the National Down Syndrome Congress Convention and the National Down Syndrome Society Adult Summit. Information is also shared in an extensive online Resource Library that covers a broad range of physical and psychosocial health topics (https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com). We help people with Down syndrome live well. To help support our mission, please visit: https://advocategiving.org/adsc/
03/28/2026
🍎 Looking for easy ways to make meals healthier? Check out our Tips for Eating Healthy Meals visual for small changes that you can make to improve your diet and promote your health!
We encourage individuals with Down syndrome to set a goal for one or two of the tips. Setting a goal with a family member, roommate/housemate, or friend can help with accountability. After reaching the goal, individuals can celebrate their success and then set goals for the other tips.
Down syndrome regression disorder is a condition that affects some people with Down syndrome in their teens and twenties. It is characterized by a significant decline in skills related to language, communication, cognition, executive function, behavior, or other areas. It is thought that less than 1% of people with Down syndrome have this condition (although it is difficult to know the exact prevalence because it has been referred to by many names and much is still being learned about the condition).
A helpful resource is the Down Syndrome & Regression page on the National Down Syndrome Society's website. It provides information on symptoms and treatment of DSRD. The NDSS page also has a downloadable PDF with a symptom checklist. See the link below to find this resource and other resources on decline in skills and regression in our online library.
The gallbladder is an important organ for the digestion of food. Gallstones (cholelithiasis) are hard, pebble-like lumps that can form in the gallbladder. They are more common in people with Down syndrome.
Symptoms of gallstones include abdominal pain, back pain, chest pain, diarrhea, and/or vomiting. If an individual has difficulty reporting these symptoms, a change in behavior or appetite may be observed.
Some people have gallstones for years without having any symptoms. If symptoms develop, the most common treatment is surgical removal of the gallbladder (along with the stones inside). Learn more in the article by Brian Chicoine, MD, linked below.
We facilitate a variety of health education and social skills groups for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome at the Adult Down Syndrome Center. We often use videos in these groups. We also encourage individuals with Down syndrome and their families to use videos when working on learning and skill building at home.
Using videos can be a wonderful way for people with Down syndrome to:
➡ learn new skills,
➡ practice existing skills, and
➡ develop greater independence.
We all experience grief differently and grieve in our own way and in our own time. However, there are some aspects of grieving that many people with Down syndrome seem to have in common.
For example, some people with Down syndrome experience a delayed response to loss in their lives. Months may pass after the death of a loved one before a person with Down syndrome shows signs of grieving. Additionally, some individuals discuss a death or loss in very current and immediate terms, even if the death or loss occurred many years ago.
It can be helpful to understand these commonalities when supporting an individual with Down syndrome who is grieving. Our online library has several resources on grief and loss and how to support a person with Down syndrome who is grieving. See the link below for an article on grief that includes links to additional resources from our online library.
🔗 https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com/resources/grief-10-things-i-know/
03/23/2026
Having blood drawn can be stressful for many people, especially if they have had negative experiences in the past. In the article linked below, our occupational therapist Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, has compiled a list of tips and strategies to promote successful and less stressful blood draws. The article also includes a link to a visual about getting blood drawn.
Consent is an important topic that we discuss in our social skills groups for individuals with Down syndrome. Consent requires respect, trust, and clear communication. Understanding consent can help a person with Down syndrome stay safe and feel empowered to make their own choices in everyday interactions.
Our Resource Library has a visual story about consent developed by Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, the occupational therapist at the Adult Down Syndrome Center. The story breaks down what consent means using examples that are easy to understand and discuss. It is available for free at the link below.
💙💛 Happy World Down Syndrome Day! Today (and every day!), we celebrate people with Down syndrome. 💛💙
Since our clinic opened in 1992, we have seen over 6,000 adolescents and adults with Down syndrome. Each person with Down syndrome has unique gifts, strengths, and skills. We are grateful for the opportunity to meet so many incredible individuals.
We hope you find a special way to celebrate this important day! In the resource linked below, we provide a list of 21 activities you can do to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day and promote your health.
From Heart Rate to Digestion: Autonomic Nervous System Function in People with Down Syndrome
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
12:00 to 1:00 p.m. CDT
Brian Chicoine, MD, will highlight key differences in autonomic nervous system function in people with Down syndrome, how these differences may influence symptoms or responses to stress and illness, and interventions to help reduce their impact or support improved function of the organ affected. The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session.
Can't attend live? Register to receive a link to the recording (emailed within 1 week of the webinar). Learn more and register at the link below!
📅 Visual schedules are effective tools for supporting independence and routine-building for people with and without Down syndrome. They help make daily tasks predictable and manageable.
📱 While some people prefer paper calendars or schedules, others may want to use an app on their phone or tablet. Our Resource Library has a list of apps that can be used to create calendars, establish routines, set timers, write reminders, and more. See the link below to review the list!
Many people with Down syndrome have blood pressures on the lower side of normal or lower than normal. Normal, or ideal, blood pressure is between 90/60 and 120/80 mm Hg. Many people with Down syndrome have a blood pressure that is closer to 90/60 or below 90/60. Differences in how the autonomic nervous system functions in people with Down syndrome may contribute to these lower blood pressure readings.
Even with blood pressures that are on the lower side of normal or even lower than normal, many people with Down syndrome don’t have symptoms associated with low blood pressures. Typical blood pressure for each person with Down syndrome is unique to that individual. Similarly, the pressure that is “too low” and results in symptoms varies from person to person. It is important to check blood pressure periodically (such as at doctor's appointments) to determine what a person's typical blood pressure is. If an individual becomes ill, it is helpful to be able to compare their blood pressure to their typical blood pressure.
🫑🥦 Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by eating green vegetables! 🥒🥗
During our groups for teens and adults with Down syndrome, we discuss how we can eat more vegetables by adding them to foods we already eat or making food swaps with vegetables. Small changes add up!
💡 Suggestions include:
▪ Adding vegetables to eggs
▪ Topping pizza or sandwiches with veggies
▪ Eating noodles, fries, pizza crust, or rice that are made from veggies such as zucchini or cauliflower
▪ Blending spinach, kale, or other green leafy vegetables into smoothies
▪ Including veggies in soups and sauces
▪ Dipping vegetables in a healthy yogurt dip, hummus, or guacamole
▪ Using lettuce in place of a bun, wrap, or bread.
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Established in 1992, the Adult Down Syndrome Center was the first and remains the largest clinic for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome in the United States. Part of Advocate Aurora Health Care, it is located on the campus of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois.
Advocate Aurora Health is one of the 10 largest not-for-profit, integrated health systems in the United States. A national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care, the system serves nearly 3 million patients annually in Illinois and Wisconsin across more than 500 sites of care.
The Adult Down Syndrome Center and its providers are nationally recognized for their expertise in providing healthcare for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome. They have received awards from many organizations including the National Down Syndrome Congress, Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group, and the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians. The physicians at the Center – Brian Chicoine, MD and Erin Dominiak, MD – have been recognized as Top Doctors by Chicago Magazine and Castle Connolly.
The Center engages in patient-centered research and clinical trials. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded the Center along with the University of Chicago an INCLUDE project grant. The Center was also selected as one of four Center of Excellence Sites for the Down Syndrome Clinical Trials Network launched by LuMind IDSC Foundation.
The Center is also committed to sharing its knowledge and experience with others. The Center’s co-founders Brian Chicoine, MD and Dennis McGuire, PhD have published two books – Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome: A Guide to Emotional and Behavioral Strengths and Challenges and The Guide to Good Health for Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome. Staff at the Center frequently present at local and national events including the National Down Syndrome Congress Convention and the National Down Syndrome Society Adult Summit. Information is also shared in an extensive online Resource Library that covers a broad range of physical and psychosocial health topics (https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com).
