"For children with Down Syndrome, it is essential to lay the foundations for speech development as early as possible. In Will Schermerhorn's helpful, viewer-friendly follow-up to his Down Syndrome: The First 18 Months(VL-5/04), an international group of experts and knowledgeable parents share their strategies for optimizing speech development, including how to identify communication milestones; recognize and respond to various types of hearing issues; encourage talking; help build vocabulary and grammar; and underscore the connection between reading and speech. Excellent production values--tight editing, solid music, and useful graphics--make this a good choice for both parents and educators working with children who have Down syndrome. Highly recommended."
--Video Librarian (3½ stars review), May/June 2006, Volume 21, Issue 3

"This informative and reassuring program helps parents of children with Down syndrome develop better speech patterns in their youngsters. Medical, speech, and language experts describe recent research and therapy techniques, while parents share their anxieties, concerns, and triumphs. Gross and fine motor skills can and do affect the ability of children to navigate, play, and speak intelligibly. Parents receive guidance on how to deal with these motor skill challenges. A pediatric otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) explains what to do if the child is born with small ear canals, a common condition. Capitalizing on the child's visual strengths through the introduction of sign language and printed symbols are addressed. Summary captions and well-integrated interviews helpfully combine in this not-to-be missed program for parents and others involved with Down syndrome children."
-Booklist

"Two years ago, Schermerhorn gave parents of new babies with DS a gift with his first film, Down Syndrome: The First 18 Months. This second film is also a gift. Schermerhorn does a nice job of mixing good professional information with personal family stories in an easy-to-use format. Life is so often overwheliming for any new parent, regardless of whether or not the baby has DS. Parents have a lot of quetions on how to help their child speak, but it can be tough to find the time to research all the answers.

Discovery gives a nice overview of what a complex process speech development is, while offering practical, concrete steps on how to help a child learn to communicate. I'd certainly recommend this to families of babies and young children for their own information and to share with other family members, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles and more, who can all help a child learn to speak."
-Down Syndrome News, Volume 28, Number 6

"The DVD could be used by parents, students or professionals who want to improve their understanding of speech and language development of children who have Down syndrome from infancy through to age seven. It is a 'must have' resource for any speech-language pathologist who wants to help others understand what is happening with a young child who has Down syndrome."
-Canadian Down Syndrome Society newsletter