For Immediate Release
PWSA | USA Introduces Twenty-Four Hour Family Support
[Sarasota, Florida, October 30, 2020] Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA (PWSA | USA) announced today it will begin providing 24-hour Family Support services to individuals and families in the Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) community.
“The past year has been challenging for everyone, and this is especially true for families affected by PWS. In addition to the struggles our community faces on any given day, the global pandemic has brought heightened health and safety concerns, isolation and loneliness, and disrupted routines and schedules,” said PWSA | USA CEO, Paige Rivard. “Our organization has experienced a significant increase in requests for help as families learn to navigate a “new normal” and in response we are introducing 24-hour Family Support services.”
Through the end of 2020, families will have round the clock emergency access to information and support for urgent medical and behavior management situations. Emergency support services begin today and will be available to the community by calling 800.926.4797. The extended services will be provided by PWSA | USA's knowledgeable and friendly Family Support team.
“We are incredibly thankful to our donors whose generosity make this critical service possible for the PWS community,” continued Rivard. “We know our families need extra support during these uncertain times and we are honored to be here for them.”
If you have any questions about PWSA | USA’s 24-hour Family Support services, please contact the organization at info@pwsausa.org.
About Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA
Prader‐Willi Syndrome Association | USA is an organization of families and professionals working together to raise awareness, provide support, and promote and fund research to enhance the quality of life of those affected by Prader-Willi syndrome.
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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.