Soar to new advocacy heights in Washington, D.C.! We are excited to announce the application to attend PWSA | USA’s 3rd D.C. Fly-In, which will take place May 4 – 6, 2026, is now available.
This year’s event hotel will be the Yours Truly DC Hotel. During the Fly-In, we will learn about Policy affecting the PWS community, hear from policy makers, and continue our advocacy efforts by coming together on May 6th for a “Day on the Hill!”
This time around, we look forward to welcoming 150 participants to join together in Washington, D.C. Those selected to attend the Fly-In will be determined on a first-come-first-served basis.
Click the button below find the D.C. Fly-In application (available in English and Spanish), information and a separate application for Travel Scholarships, important disclaimer details about attending the event, our hotel room block link, and more. Applications (to attend the Fly-In and for travel scholarships) are due to PWSA | USA no later than Friday, March 6, 2026. Spots will fill up FAST, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible! If you have any questions, please contact us at advocacy@pwsausa.org.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.