Join PWSA | USA for our July Advocacy in Action webinar: Effective Communication with Elected Officials and Stakeholders - A Virtual Roundtable and Panel Discussionย
When: July 25, 2022 at 2:00PM EST
Register in advance here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_W4pZ9Q34R3GoO9HdBpmMbg
PWSA | USA is excited to bring you this Virtual Roundtable and Panel Discussion on Effective Communication with Elected Officials and Stakeholders. The ability to work with elected officials and stakeholders is one of the most important skills that advocates must employ. Join us on July 25th to hear directly from elected officials and their staff, and explore some of the basic dos and donโts when engaging with your elected officials. See below for a list of questions our panelists will be addressing:
- What made you decide to run for office?
- How do you prefer your constituents contact you? Why?
- What are some common misconceptions people have about elected officials and how can we combat these misconceptions to communicate more effectively?
- What is the best/most effective way to engage with an elected official on social media?
- Is your staff important and how should we engage with staff?
- What is the number one way we, as constituents and advocates, can make a substantial difference in our communities?
- What is one piece of practical advice you would give to someone who is reaching out to their elected official for the first time?
Confirmed panelists:
State Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, FL
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, MN โ Legislative Assistant Ruth McDonald
State House Delegate Emily Shetty, MD
State Rep. Maureen Mooney, NE
Tentative panelist:
U.S. Sen. John Boozman, AR
The information provided during this panel discussion will help those planning to attend PWSA | USA's 2022 D.C. Fly-In event. Learn more about the Fly-In and apply to attend by clicking HERE.
Share this!

Perry A. Zirkel has written more than 1,500 publications on variousย aspects of school law, with an emphasis on legal issues in special education.ย He writes a regular column for NAESPโsย Principalย magazine and NASPโsย Communiquรฉย newsletter, and he did so previously forย Phi Delta Kappanย andย 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 Childrenโs Institute of Pittsburgh. She graduated fromย Duquesne University receiving her Bachelorโs and Masterโs 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 Programย (IEP) consultant. Staci collaborates with the PWS multi-disciplinary clinic at the Childrenโs Hospital in Denverย supporting families and school districts around the United Statesย with their childโs 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.