The Williams Syndrome Association is organized into 19 regions across the United States. Illinois is divided into two regions. The majority of Illinois is in the Midwest region, with the southern portion residing in the Heartland region. Each region works to provide resource information and social and educational opportunities to its members. Volunteers are standing by in each state within the regions (parents and grandparents who can provide resources and information) to speak with new families or any families needing support. They are joined by many other volunteers who work hard to facilitate gatherings such as picnics, conferences, and fundraisers.
Below you will find the name(s) and contact email addresses of your state's Family Support Network volunteer(s).
Areas of focus: new diagnosis, children, cardiac issues, local resources
Amy Nussbaum has a BA from University of Michigan in music education, and has worked as a music teacher in elementary and middle schools. Following college graduation, she joined the Peace Corps and lived in Namibia for two years where her service was primarily dedicated to grant writing and education for an elementary school in a rural community. She also established a community garden, kindergarten program, school playground, the school’s first library, and resources for HIV/AIDS prevention; she taught English, teacher development, computer, and HIV/AIDS prevention classes to both children and adults. While in the public schools, she was fortunate to teach every student in the schools, and frequently differentiated lesson plans and assessments for particular students, attending weekly team meetings with fellow staff members to solve student challenges, and participating in IEP meetings as a teacher representative. She has fundraised and served on the board for a nonprofit in Chicago, where she lives with her husband and four children, including daughter Libi, who has WS.
Family Support Network areas of focus: new diagnosis, children
Area of focus: adults, local resources.
