Description
The Developmental Resource Stimulation Programme was developed and researched in the South African community setting by Dr Dorothy Russell.
Dr. Dorothy Russell has worked as a Senior Occupational Therapist and the Director of the Bloemfontein Child Information Centre (BCIC) in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State, for the past 36 years.
Dr. Russell’s passion lies in working with babies and children with Down Syndrome and their families. She values the role of community service and has spent much of her career developing programmes and intervention specifically designed for this context.
As part of her PhD, Dr. Russell developed the Developmental Resource Stimulation Programme. This programme was designed to assist parents in the management of their babies and children with Down Syndrome, with particular emphasis on the application of the task-orientated approach. Her research tested the application, efficacy and impact of this programme on the developmental progress of children with Down Syndrome.
Dr.Russell has presented at congresses nationally and internationally and has authored 17 publications including manuals and scientific journals. She continues to train and mentor occupational therapists in the treatment of children with Down Syndrome and Developmental Delay.