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Teen Talk Study

In 2024–2025, we listened to 40 siblings from across Australia share their experiences of family life and social connection. Most had a brother or sister with developmental disability, and others did not. Together, they offered open and thoughtful reflections on roles and responsibilities at home, friendships, fam

THINK BIG - Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Amy Andrew Helen Jenny Martyn Melissa Videos Finlay-Jones Whitehouse Watch and listen to Andrew Leonard Downs Symons Licari BPsych(Hons), MPsych(

Towards evidence based care for Rett syndrome: a research model to inform management of rare disorders

Helen Jenny Leonard Downs MBChB MPH BApplSci (physio) MSc PhD Principal Research Fellow Head, Child Disability +61 419 956 946 08 6319 1763

Using ambulatory monitoring to investigate awake breathing irregularities in Rett syndrome in Australian population-based and Italian clinic samples

Helen Jenny Leonard Downs MBChB MPH BApplSci (physio) MSc PhD Principal Research Fellow Head, Child Disability +61 419 956 946 08 6319 1763

The common BDNF polymorphism may be a modifier of disease severity in Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome (RTT) is caused by mutations in the transcriptional repressor methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2).

Impact of scoliosis surgery on activities of daily living in females with Rett syndrome

Scoliosis is a common orthopaedic complication of Rett syndrome, and surgery is commonly used to reduce asymmetry in cases with severe scoliosis.

InterRett, a model for international data collection in a rare genetic disorder

This study compared socio-demographic, clinical and genetic characteristics of the international database, InterRett, and the population-based Australian...

Siblings of children with disabilities: challenges and opportunities

Physical and mental health in mothers of children with Down syndrome.