Your child has just been diagnosed with Williams syndrome - what do you do now?
There is an abundance of information out there that you'll want to go through at some point, but as a new parent there are several things you should do as soon as possible:
- Address whatever physical disabilities/problems your child is having. There are a number of typical problems associated with WS. Your child may currently be experiencing one or several. It is most likely that one of these problems is the reason your child was diagnosed with Williams syndrome in the first place. You'll want to have your child evaluated for these typical issues first. Descriptions of the characteristics of Williams syndrome can be found in the What is Williams syndrome page of the WSA website at the following link:
- What is Williams syndrome
- Make sure your Pediatrician has both the WS-specific Growth Chart and the Policy Statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics. These are important guidelines that your pediatrician needs to have on file for your child. These can both be found on the WSA website at the following links:
- WS growth charts
- Health Care Supervision for Children With Williams Syndrome
- Anesthesia concerns
- Check the current list of WS specific clinics available around the country to see if there are any in your area. If there are, consider a visit to the clinic for consultation and have your child evaluated. You can find the list of clinics on the WSA website at the following link:
- WS clinics
- Join the WSA. Membership is only $20/yr and you will gain access to a wealth of information and benefits, which you can see at the following link:
- WSA membership benefits
- Contact your Regional WSA Director for consultation about local services, events, and making contact with other local parents of children with Williams syndrome. The list of regional Directors can be found at the following link:
- WSA Regional sites
- Ask questions to one of the best resources available - other parents who have walked your path. Communicate with hundreds of other parents on the Williams syndrome email list. To find information on subscribing to the email list, visit:
- WS listserve
- Get the Williams Syndrome Association�s handbook for parents, Fulfilling Dreams - The WS Parent Handbook. Featuring practical advice, ideas, insights and information for parents of people with Williams syndrome � from infancy through school years, adolescence, transition to independence, and adulthood. See the description and buy the book at the following link
- Fulfilling Dreams
This should help get you started.
You will then want to research the other sections of the For Parents area of the website. You will find information on therapies, IEPs, age appropriate issues, and other frequently asked questions.
