We are starting a new initiative to inspire HOPE for our PWS community! Spotlight on Hope will share stories about individuals living with PWS: stories about a recent triumph, big or small, overcoming a challenge, being recognized in their community, or anything that inspires hope or joy in their life and those around them. If you are interested in sharing, please click the button below! We will share a new Spotlight on Hope in each PWSA | USA bi-weekly Pulse.
"High school is a brand new experience. Isaac has been doing great in his classes and after careful consideration by the ROTC teachers/officers, he also joined JROTC. He loves the uniform and worked hard to pass his first promotion! We have been challenged with controlling food access in such a large, free environment since he doesn't have an aide, which has resulted in a 10 pound weight gain. However, with a lot of communication and creativity on the part of the staff, I think we're making progress. Proud of this kid."
- Kathleen Davis, Mom to Isaac (14)
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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.