Siblings often make excellent caregivers for their sibling with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) because they grow up around PWS, understand the realities of the syndrome, and are trained throughout their lives to take care of their sibling. Therefore, siblings seem to be a parent’s perfect choice to tend their family member with PWS and often become...
Home Schooling: How Do I Get Services for My Child? (Part 3 in a Series)
Appropriate services for our children is always a top concern and school-aged children typically get most of their services through the school. So naturally when considering homeschooling, you’ll want to know what your options are for services. Generally speaking, there are four possible avenues for therapy services: Your local school district, your state’s department of...
Update on Later Stage Clinical Trials for Prader-Willi Syndrome Hyperphagia
Approximately two years ago, several companies began clinical trials of drugs with the potential to treat hyperphagia and associated behaviors in Prader Willi syndrome (PWS). Outcomes of four of five trials are now available. Soleno Therapeutics recently announced the results of clinical trials of DCCR. In the double-blind study, caregivers were asked to rate the...
Grandma Lee: A Poem by Spencer Ginyard
This poem was submitted by Spencer Ginyard, a young man who has Prader-Willi syndrome. Spencer recently graduated from Cal State University, San Bernardino where he received a bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing. He is an honors recipient from Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society. To my Great Grandma, Grandma Lee...
Home Schooling: But I’m Not a Teacher, How Can I Teach My Children? (Part 2 In a Series)
Did you used to be a teacher? You must need special qualifications to home school, right? Variations of this question come up frequently when I tell people I home school. The truth though is that no, I was not a teacher, and though I do have a graduate degree, I don’t have any special training...
Surviving Quarantine as a Sibling
Siblings of individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) are at an increased risk of developing emotional and mental health problems. According to the 2019 study on PWS sibling well-being, participants showed incredibly high rates of distress and lower than average resilience (Murphy, Thornton & Thornton, 2019.) The outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent quarantine may make the...
Help! My kids are Schooling at Home and I don’t Know What to Do!
One of the biggest changes that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought is changes to the way our kids are educated. Most students spent all day at school, in a classroom, surrounded by other students, and with a teacher leading their learning. As schools around the country shut down, parents were forced into a variety of...
Running for Research
PWSA | USA is happy to announce its partnership with Running for Research, a diverse group of runners dedicated to raising funds for the Prader-Willi Syndrome Research Fund at the University of Florida and Dr. Jennifer Miller’s work to identify effective treatments for children and adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Since its founding in 2018,...
Tips for Improving the Well-being of Siblings of Individuals with Prader-Willi Syndrome: Debriefing
Siblings of individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) are often exposed to tantrums, psychiatric distress, health crises, and the extreme rigidity of their siblings. For some, this creates a traumatic and stressful home environment. Offsetting this exposure with positive experiences and therapies often helps siblings get through these challenges. Siblings of individuals with disabilities are at...
Surviving Teletherapy
If you have a loved one who has Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), you have no doubt tried some sort of teletherapy due to the Coronavirus pandemic. While some individuals have taken easily to this new way of interacting, many are finding it difficult. If your loved one falls in the latter category, a few suggestions are...
Visceral Adipose Tissue Resides Within the Reference Range in Children with Prader-Willi syndrome Receiving Nutritional Intervention on a Regular Basis
In a recently published study from Japan, 20 children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) were retrospectively evaluated for the effect of nutritional intervention (caloric restriction) and growth hormone (GH) treatment on visceral adipose tissue (VAT). VAT has been shown to be a marker for risk of metabolic complications and is believed to be a better marker...
Latest Update on the Genotropin Mini Quick shortage from Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
Earlier this year, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals experienced a temporary interruption in the supply of the Genotropin 5 and 12mg cartridges, as well as all Mini Quick devices. According to the Commercial Brand Lead for the US, Michael Harris of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, the interruption was due to a manufacturing issue in fall of 2019 at the Pfizer...
Soleno Therapeutics Announces Top-line Results from Phase III Trial of DCCR for Treatment of Prader-Willi Syndrome
Though the study did not meet statistical significance for Primary Endpoint, significant improvements were seen in a prespecified subgroup with severe hyperphagia. Significant positive changes were also seen in two of three key secondary endpoints. Interim analysis of Ongoing Extension Study (C602) showed further reductions in hyperphagia of 48% after six months of DCCR treatment....
Sunshine Means It’s Summertime!
Summer is the perfect opportunity to spend time with your family, have fun, and de-stress. Whether you are hiking near a remote waterfall, camping in your own backyard, riding bikes through the neighborhood, or running through the sprinkler, doing it as a family makes it more fun and helps create life-long memories. Individuals with Prader-Willi...
Exercise: Healthy Fun for Everyone
You have heard exercise is good for physical health, but did you know research also shows exercise is beneficial to mental health and mood? According to the Mayo Clinic, physical activity stimulates endorphins in the brain that elevate mood and encourage relaxation. Exercise can fend off depression and anxiety in individuals with PWS and can...
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
It is National Teacher Appreciation Week and there is no better time to show the teachers in your life how valuable they are your children’s academic success and overall development! I once considered becoming a teacher (Who doesn’t; love the idea of getting out of work by 3 PM every day and long summer vacations?!)....
Volunteer Appreciation Week: Thank YOU for being Part of our CommUNITY!
Volunteer Appreciation Week: Thank YOU for being Part of our CommUNITY! Over 45 years ago, PWSA (USA) was founded by volunteers. It remained a fully volunteer-run organization until 1980 when our first paid Executive Director was hired (the next paid staff wasn’t hired until 1984!). While the number of staff has grown to 14, our...
2020 Giving Challenge
Take Part in the 2020 Giving Challenge! Noon to Noon, April 28-29
At Home Resources for Families
Stuck inside your home and need things to do? We’ve put together a list of resources to help you out at home! ✅ Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschooling – complete or partial free curriculum for all ages and stages https://allinonehomeschool.com/ ✅ Khan Academy – education for everyone, math, science, etc https://www.khanacademy.org/ ✅ Spelling City https://www.spellingcity.com/ ✅ Scripture Typer and Bible...
Important Information regarding COVID-19
PWSA (USA) is aware that the threat of illness is always a potential danger to those with PWS, their families and community. We advise our families to be extra vigilant in their efforts to prevent the spread of viral illness especially at this time when COVID-19 is likely to be present in their communities at...
National Nutrition Month
National Nutrition Month – March 2020 By: Stacy Ward, Director of Family/Medical Support & Special Projects March is National Nutrition Month. A month when the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages people to focus on making informed nutrition decisions, and good eating and physical activity habits. Parents and families of loved ones diagnosed with...
Meet Our Hope Hero: Lauren
She’s 39 now, my Lauren, and tonight is the big Night to Shine Dance (sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation). We’ve been doing all the things that girls do when you prepare for prom or a formal dance. Fittings, alterations, accessories, hair and make-up. She’s as excited about this as she was about the prom...
Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders in Young Adults With Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Placebo-Controlled, Crossover GH Trial
Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) are common in people with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Young adults with PWS benefit from GH continuation after attaining adult height by maintaining the improved body composition obtained during childhood. There are, no studies about the effects of GH on SRBD in young adults with PWS who were treated with GH during childhood. The objective...
Halloween Fun
Children, and many adults, look forward to Halloween with great anticipation…Bags full of sugary treats, scary decorations, and the thrill of trick or treating with friends and family…What could be more fun? But, what do you do for Halloween when your loved one has Prader-Willi syndrome? Can they safely participate in the festivities? The answer...
Jennifer Bolander has been serving as a Special Education Specialist for PWSA (USA) since October of 2015. She is a graduate of John Carroll University and lives in Ohio with her husband Brad and daughters Kate (17), and Sophia (13) who was born with PWS.
Perry A. Zirkel has written more than 1,500 publications on various aspects of school law, with an emphasis on legal issues in special education. He writes a regular column for NAESP’s Principal magazine and NASP’s Communiqué newsletter, and he did so previously for Phi Delta Kappan and Teaching Exceptional Children.
Evan has worked with the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) since 2007 primarily as a Crisis Intervention and Family Support Counselor. Evans works with parents and schools to foster strong collaborative relationships and appropriate educational environments for students with PWS.
Dr. Amy McTighe is the PWS Program Manager and Inpatient Teacher at the Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome at the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Duquesne University receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education with a focus on elementary education, special education, and language arts.
Staci Zimmerman works for Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Colorado as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) consultant. Staci collaborates with the PWS multi-disciplinary clinic at the Children’s Hospital in Denver supporting families and school districts around the United States with their child’s Individual Educational Plan.
Founded in 2001, SDLC is a non-profit legal services organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of people with disabilities throughout the South. It partners with the Southern Poverty Law Center, Protection and Advocacy (P&A) programs, Legal Services Corporations (LSC) and disability organizations on major, systemic disability rights issues involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the federal Medicaid Act. Recently in November 2014, Jim retired.