The MILES Study

UT Austin Texas Center for Disability StudiesBaylor universityResearch Studies
Written By Kait Fedro

Mapping the interactions of language and early motor skills in down syndrome

All about the Miles study

The MILES Study will follow babies with and without Down Syndrome for a whole year. We will measure their language, communication, motor skills, and physical activity to learn how these abilities grow and work together over time.

Babies will play with toys and their caregivers will fill out questionnaires when they start the study, and then two more times, six months apart, making it three visits in total over the year.

This research will give important information about the early development of babies with and without Down syndrome to help create better intervention strategies and support.

 

Eligibility & Study Details

To be eligible to participate in the MILES Study, families must have a child ages 6 to 18 months with or without Down Syndrome. Parents must speak English or Spanish. Both the infant and the parent must live in Central Texas.

The study involves three research visits (at most 2 hours in length each) over a 1-year period. Parents will complete questionnaires about their child’s development. Language and motor assessments will be performed. Children will wear small devices for 7 days to monitor physical activity and language.

 

How to get involved

If you’re interested in more information about the MILES Study, please visit the MILES Study website. If you’d like to join the interest list to become a study participant, please complete the MILES Study Interest Form online.

Kait Fedro

Kaitlin “Kait” Fedro is the System of Care Coordinator with Our Community Our Future, where she develops resources, programming, and collaborative tools to strengthen supports for youth and families across the Heart of Texas region. Her passion for this work is deeply rooted in her lived experience with a mental health disorder that began in early adolescence, her role as a mother to a young, neurodivergent child, and her background as an early childhood development professional. Outside of work, Kait enjoys reading with an extra-large cup of coffee and visiting favorite community spots with her family.

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