FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 14, 2021
Sarasota, Florida: Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA (PWSA | USA) is pleased to announce its upcoming 36th National Convention is moving to an all-new virtual format. Due to the ongoing health concerns brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization will provide members of the Prader-Willi syndrome community with a variety of learning, educational,and support activities online.
The 2021 PWSA | USA Virtual Convention, Hope’s on the Horizon, will take place June 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26. The Virtual Convention will include three conferences: Professional Providers, Medical-Scientific, and General. Each conference will feature breakout sessions, workshops, and virtual networking opportunities.
“The National Convention has been one of the most anticipated events in the Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) communities since its 1979 debut in Minnesota,” said PWSA | USA CEO, Paige Rivard. “Since then, thousands of professionals and families have attended the biennial event to connect and to learn from experts who provide attendees with the most up-to-date information and resources for addressing the very complex needs of supporting and caring for an individual diagnosed with PWS. While we will all miss being in-person this year, we look forward to bringing this invaluable resource to more participants than ever before in a way that ensures the highest level of safety and well-being for our community.”
Held June 22nd, the Professional Provider Conference provides an opportunity for educational, Social Services, and Residential professional providers to come together to discuss identified and supported best practice and standard of care approaches. Cost is $25.00 and includes registration for the General Conference. The Medical-Scientific Conference will be held June 23rd – 24th and will bring together scientists, researchers, and medical professionals from different disciplines so they can share ideas and report on progress, helping to meet the ever-present goal to support research that will identify effective treatments for PWS. Cost for that Conference is $150 and includes registration for the General Conference. Parents, grandparents, caregivers, and professionals who attend the General Conference will have their choice of multiple learning tracks covering an array of topics that can be tailored to their individual preferences. Registration to the General Conference is free to the PWS community.
More information about conference schedules and registration information will be shared as it becomes available on the organization’s website: www.pwsausa.org.
Any questions regarding the 2021 PWSA | USA Virtual Convention may be directed to Jackie Mallow at convention@pwsausa.org or (800) 926-4797.
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.