PWSA | USA Social Stories
The Social Stories below, which are learning tools created by PWSA | USA's Family Support Team, were specifically designed for individuals living with PWS across all ages, races, genders, and abilities. They can be used to help your loved one navigate different social situations and build social and emotional skills.
Click on the buttons below to download our first social story, which provides an exercise your loved one can use when they feel upset. You will also find a blank version of this social story, allowing you to add in your own images, be it through printed pictures or drawings!
Click on the buttons below to download our second social story, which provides an exercise your loved one can use when they want to play with others. You will also find a blank version of this social story, allowing you to add in your own images, be it through printed pictures or drawings!
Click on the buttons below to download our third social story, which provides an exercise your loved one can use when other individuals are not being nice to them. You will also find a blank version of this social story, allowing you to add in your own images, be it through printed pictures or drawings!
Click on the buttons below to download our fourth social story, which provides an exercise your loved one can use to help them make good choices. You will also find a blank version of this social story, allowing you to add in your own images, be it through printed pictures or drawings!
Click on the buttons below to download our fifth social story, which provides an exercise your loved one can use to help them make good choices. You will also find a blank version of this social story, allowing you to add in your own images, be it through printed pictures or drawings!
Click on the buttons below to download our sixth social story, which provides an exercise your loved one can use to help them brush their teeth. You will also find a blank version of this social story, allowing you to add in your own images, be it through printed pictures or drawings!
Click on the buttons below to download our seventh social story, which provides an exercise your loved one can use to help them get ready to go to sleep. You will also find a blank version of this social story, allowing you to add in your own images, be it through printed pictures or drawings!
Click on the buttons below to download our eighth social story, which provides an exercise your loved one can use to help them calm down when they are feeling frustrated. You will also find a blank version of this social story, allowing you to add in your own images, be it through printed pictures or drawings!
How Does Family Support Offer Help & Hope?
Watch the videos below to hear how our families and individuals affected by PWS receive support
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.