Founded in 2017 by Jessica Patay, mother to a 18-year-old son with Prader-Willi syndrome, We Are Brave Together (WABT) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support caregiving mothers to children, any age, with any diagnosis, disability, or challenge, including learning differences, ADHD, and mental health issues. This international community includes over 1350 moms in 45 states and 10 countries. Passionate about serving and encouraging moms of special needs children everywhere, Jessica wishes she could look every mom in the eyes and tell her, “You are not alone.” (https://www.wearebravetogether.com/)
WABT is based in Southern California and was launched with the intention and mission to help combat the isolation and compassion fatigue that mothers face, by offering support groups, educational workshops, and retreats. The organization believes that by empowering, educating, and providing a community for moms, entire families will be positively impacted. During this COVID season, WABT is offering both virtual and in-person support groups. It has satellite support groups popping up all over the United States, and in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. WABT also offers an inspirational and resourceful podcast, Brave Together with Jessica Patay, which can be found on Apple, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher.
Join the WABT sisterhood here:
https://www.wearebravetogether.com
Follow WABT here:
IG: @wearebravetogether
IG: @bravetogetherpod
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/wearebravetogether
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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.