Holiday Gift Ideas: Sensory Edition
Prader-Willi syndrome is a spectrum disorder, and the spectrum is broad. Developmental milestones don’t always apply to our loved ones with PWS, not in the typical ways. That certainly does not mean they aren’t developing and learning new skills. It simply means that sometimes, especially for our emotional well-being, we need to toss those “age-appropriate”...
Simple Self-Care
Contributed by Anne Fricke, mom to Freya (living with PWS) What Does Self-Care Look Like for You? For some, self-care is regular massage appointments and weekend getaways. Others sign up for dance classes, spend hours on a golf course, or go out for fancy dinners and nights on the town. These are all great ways...
Simple Ways to Adjust Recipes for Prader-Willi Syndrome
Food can't be avoided. Yet, with a diagnosis of Prader-Willi syndrome, our relationship to food must shift dramatically. Some may see this as a blessing, an opportunity to learn how to make better food choices. Others may feel the burden instantly. Hopefully, with some adjustments and education, the needed shifts will feel less like a...
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.