We are excited to announce that PWS Connect, a brand-new podcast from PWSA | USA, is launching on Friday, August 30, 2024, across all major podcast platforms. PWS Connect will be your go-to source for the latest news, research, advocacy efforts, and family support in the Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) community.
At PWSA | USA, our mission has always been to empower and support individuals with PWS and their families, and this podcast is an extension of that commitment. Each episode will bring together a diverse range of voices, including our dedicated staff, passionate volunteers, leading PWS treatment specialists, biotech and pharmaceutical experts, caregivers, family members, and individuals living with PWS.
PWS Connect is more than just a podcast—it’s a platform for education, awareness, and connection. Whether you’re looking for updates on PWSA | USA’s services and events, the latest research, insights into advocacy, or practical advice for family support, this podcast has something for everyone in the PWS community. Our goal is to bridge the gap between information and those who need it most, ensuring that everyone affected by PWS has access to the resources and knowledge they need to thrive.
On August 30th, check our website, social media, and Special Edition Pulse email newsletter for information on how to listen. Episodes will air every Tuesday and include valuable content to inform, inspire, and empower. We invite you to join us on this new journey!
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.