BoundUp

BoundUp: A Boundary-Setting Game for Children with Down Syndrome

BoundUp is an educational board game designed to help children with Down syndrome learn how to recognize and respond to inappropriate touch. Through interactive, family-friendly gameplay, it transforms a difficult, often avoided topic—sexual education—into a safe, engaging experience.

Players draw a "Character Card" and an "Action Card" to create everyday scenarios—such as being at school or visiting a doctor—and work together to judge whether the behavior is appropriate. If the decision is correct, a Guardian token is added around the central “Home,” reinforcing the child’s protective boundary. A wrong decision removes a Guardian, raising the risk level. The goal is to defend the Home—making abstract concepts of personal safety visible, tangible, and meaningful.

Recognizing the unique cognitive needs of children with intellectual disabilities, BoundUp adopts a fully accessible design language. It uses highly pictorial icons, soft colors, and simplified character art to reduce anxiety and enhance comprehension. The island map surrounding the Home reflects real-life places a child visits daily—bridging in-game learning with real-world application.

To meet the needs of children with short attention spans and limited verbal skills, BoundUp features:

Short, turn-based play for better focus

Visual card matching and stacking to lower reading barriers

Immediate rewards and consequences to clarify cause-effect learning

Cooperative decision-making, encouraging dialogue between children and caregivers

More than a game, BoundUp is a tool for change. It provides families with a natural entry point into conversations about boundaries—without needing to explicitly discuss “sex.” It empowers children to say “no,” while offering parents a gentle, guided framework to educate and protect.

In a world where children with disabilities are at the highest risk of abuse yet receive the least education about it, BoundUp fills a critical gap. It upholds the right to bodily autonomy, informed choice, and inclusive education—for every child.