Therapy isn't always geared toward people with Down syndrome. Two local groups are changing that

A Johnson County partnership is offering people with Down syndrome and their caretakers access to therapy services. Down Syndrome Innovations and the county-run mental health center will provide a mental health clinician for eight to 12 sessions per patient.
There are more than 2,000 people with Down syndrome in Kansas City, but many struggle to access mental health care.

According to the National Down Syndrome Society, at least half of people with Down syndrome will encounter a major mental health concern in their lifetime — commonly anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors.

Down Syndrome Innovations, a local group providing support and services to people with the condition, saw a gap between need and available services after a deep dive into their client base. They are partnering with Johnson County Mental Health Center to provide patients and their families weekly therapy to bridge that divide.