Karina has Down Syndrome

Karina's parents share the challenges and joys of raising a child with special needs. Covers Karina's first six years.

Since their initial shock at their daughter's disability, Karina's parents have experienced the challenges and joys of raising a child with special needs. Gun Dolva and Rodney Potter have taken advantage of available services and programmes - and their own imaginations - to devise stimulating activities to assist her to develop to her full potential. They aim to provide her with every opportunity to fully participate in the community. This is the account of Karina's first six years, as told by Cheryl Rogers. It aims to be a valuable resource for the families of Down Syndrome children, teachers and disability service workers.

About the authors:

Cheryl Rodgers graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Since training as a journalist with Western Australia Newspapers Ltd, she has worked on a number of weekly magazines, and currently lives in the Swan Valley, Western Australia. Gun Dolva met Cheryl while studying Zoology at the University of Western Australia. She now works as a sessional academic/tutor at Edith Cowan University. Gun is Karina’s mother, and lives with her family in Darlington, Western Australia.