When: March 9, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. EST
Topic: Navigating and Advocating the Special Education Process for Students with PWS
Advocacy In Action is happy to welcome one of our own as our guest presenter for the month of March: Maureen Tracey, Founder and CEO of Four Seasons Behavioral Solutions
As the founder and CEO for Four Seasons Behavioral Solutions, Maureen specializes in advocacy and training to aide in understanding and helping children who experience behavior challenges. She started her journey from regular to special education after her daughter Lou- Lou was born. For the past 25 years, Maureen has continued educating herself in disability advocacy and policy. As an educational consultant for the University of New Hampshire, a District Wide PBIS Coordinator at a local school district, member and former chair of the Special Education Advocacy Committee in New Hampshire, an adjunct Professor at Franklin Pierce University in the Education Department, Trainer and Presenter for Functional Behavior Assessments, a Wrap Around Coordinator, PWS NH Chapter President, a LEND Fellow at the University of NH and a leadership grad and group leader at NH Leadership Series and an active member of PWSA | USA’s Advocacy Workgroup, Maureen has had many roles. The most important role and education Maureen has had is being the mother to Lou-Lou, who has taught her patience, advocacy, and courage. They have shared many tears together; however, they continue to grow, strengthen, and triumph.
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.