Education

The learner with Williams syndrome (WS) can be both the biggest joy and the biggest challenge for the educators charged with their instruction.  Students with Williams syndrome are often caring, engaging, and excited learners. They also have a unique learning profile which requires educators to teach to the student and allow him or her to access their curriculum in unique ways.

COVID-19 has dramatically changed the landscape of school in general and special education in particular. Schools may be face-to-face, hybrid, virtual, or some combination of all of those things.  IEP meetings are conducted over zoom and service provision for therapies and social work has completely changed.

Back to school for many WS families can be exciting, yet filled with much anxiety about the variety of learning obstacles our kiddos face on a daily basis.  For our family, upon learning the diagnosis of our oldest daughter Stella (diagnosed at 5), we elected to actively seek out a school district and school that would rise our daughter up to her fullest potential. 

Do you have a vision for your child with Williams syndrome?  Is it written down so you can refer to it, update it, and remember exactly why you are working so hard every day to overcome the obstacles in your child’s path?  Lisa and Ned Portune read all the things that their child...“probably wouldn’t do," and then set out to help Erin be the very best she could be.

The Best Education for Students with Williams syndrome

As I read posts on the WS Support page, the listserve, throughout Facebook, and think back on my son’s school years it is clear to me, that late August and early September are clearly a time for new beginnings – much more so than the traditional New Year’s Day.