Health board

Parents of babies born with Down syndrome are invited to an open evening from 7.30pm-9pm tonight in the Shelbourne Hotel, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin. Down Syndrome Centre liaison nurse Angela O’Riordan and speech and language therapist Marinet van Vuren will offer support, information and advice. Admission is free. Tel: 01-6618000, downsyndromecentre.ie.

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The different visual worlds of children with special needs is the theme of two workshops on Wednesday, August 4th, in the Carlton Hotel, Dublin Airport. Visual processing consultant and optician Ian Jordan will discuss visual perceptual problems in children with autism from 9.30am-3.30pm (cost €110), while visual impairment teacher Maurice Sparrow will look at how to develop decluttered and simplified visual environments for children with visual impairments from 5pm-8pm (cost €45).

Both workshops are organised by a new Kildare-based charity, Sensational Kids, tel: 045-520900, sensationalkids.ie.

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The pregnancy and childbirth website, eumom.ie, has been relaunched. Alongside sections on health and nutrition, money and work, and suggested reading, the site also runs online chat forums for mothers-to-be and new mothers.

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The Ballyknocken Cookery School in Glenealy, Co Wicklow, is holding an adults and children “Bonding in the Kitchen” session on Sunday, August 8th, from 2.30pm-5pm.

The hands-on class will involve making tortillas, curry and chocolate fondue. Cost €55 per adult and €35 per child.

Tel: 0404-44627 ballyknocken.com.