Stacy Ward, MS, BCBA
Stacy Ward, PWSA | USA CEO, lives in Troy, NY with her husband Jeff and their children, Jeffrey and Collin.
Prior to joining the PWSA | USA staff in 2016, Stacy was the Associate Director of Residential Living for a not-for-profit in Albany, NY that specialized in supporting individuals diagnosed with PWS. Stacy has a master’s degree in Psychology/Applied Behavior Analysis, and a certification in Special Education Advocacy from the William and Mary College of Law Pele Clinic.
In her personal life, Stacy is actively involved in her local school district and serves on the board of directors for several youth organizations in her city. In her free time, she enjoys watching her children play sports, hiking with her dog and all things Disney.
Patrice Carroll, LICSW
Patrice Carroll, LICSW, is the director of PWS services at Latham Centers in Massachusetts, USA. Patrice received her MSW from Simmons College, Boston, MA, in 2008. Patrice is a member of the International Prader Willi Syndrome Organisation Professional Providers and Caregiver’s Advisory Board and has over 22 years of experience working with children and adults diagnosed with PWS. Patrice is a co-author of the book Living Healthy with Prader-Willi Syndrome. Patrice is currently working towards her doctorate degree with an emphasis on trauma in families living with PWS. In addition to her experience with developing person-centered vocational programming for people with PWS, she has specialized in the multi-modal management of skin and rectal picking using intensive, non-contingent, sensory stimulation.
Kasey Bedard, Ph.D., BCBA-D, IBA
Kasey Bedard is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and International Behavior Analyst who specializes in treating the behavior problems associated with Prader-Willi syndrome. Kasey focuses on providing early behavioral intervention for children with PWS to prevent and reduce behavior problems. She is a staunch advocate for the use of creative technologies, including telehealth, to reduce treatment barriers and expand access to specialists in PWS for families worldwide. Kasey's research focuses on the development of both PWS-specific early intervention, and systemic treatment programs to help teenagers and adults with PWS succeed in educational and vocational settings. She firmly believes that behavior analysis can help create a bright future for individuals with PWS and is passionate about finding ways to support the worldwide PWS community.
Cindy Szapacs, M.Ed. BCBA
Cindy Szapacs is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst who has a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Virginia. She has been working in the field of special education, mostly using applied behavior analysis, for many years. She has worked both as a direct service provider to individuals with a variety of diagnoses between the ages of 1 and 21 as well as a consultant providing individual, small group and large group trainings to families and professionals. Currently, Cindy works as a Behavior Analyst, supporting classrooms run by the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22 in Pennsylvania. She also is a mother of two boys, one of whom happens to have PWS. Since joining the PWS family, she has learned a lot about this unique population and has made a point of educating herself, professionals and parents on how to best meet the needs of those with PWS.
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.