Patrice and Brittni inform and educate at international PWS seminar

Two of our Latham leaders were exceptional presenters this week at an IPWSO (International Prader-Willi Syndrome Organisation) seminar with 15 countries represented. IPWSO has hosted many interesting and educational virtual seminars entitled Project ECHO. Their website states, “in collaboration with the University of New Mexico’s Project ECHO® initiative, we are pleased to offer free online tele-mentoring programmes designed to support health and allied professionals, parents, caregivers, families, PWS Associations and people who wish to form groups to raise awareness and advocate for the needs of people with PWS,”(https://ipwso.org/how-we-can-help/project-echo/).

On Wednesday, April 20, in front of 30 members of the PWS community, Patrice Carroll (Director of PWS Services, Latham Centers) and Brittni Kliment (Director of Program Marketing and Admissions, Latham Centers) led a 90-minute seminar on the Education of PWS, Behavior Appreciation, and Positive Support Strategies. It was incredible to see the variety of professionals, educators, caretakers, and family members hailing from the USA, Australia, Ireland, Hungary, Denmark, Nigeria, and Switzerland.

While the presentation highlighted Prader-Willi care ranging from Sensory Processing Disorder, Theory of Mind, Executive Functioning Disorder, and positive support strategies, certain moments triggered much discussion.

• • Brittni discussed the positive support strategies she utilized with a student who loved monsters. Each class period where he did not      skin pick, he received one monster card. He could trade in five monster cards for a new monster picture in his room. Soon, his walls      were covered with cool monster photos, and his skin picking had reduced.

  • Patrice explained the Theory of Mind concept and how someone with PWS lacks this maturation. Attendees started explaining       different therapies that have worked, such as Cognitive Behavior Theory, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Play therapy, igniting a   conversation about breaking things down to the base level of emotion.

  • Finally, the group discussed balancing the need to keep a familiar environment and routines with natural things that get in the way. A Metabolism & Obesity Services expert at a Prader-Willi Syndrome Clinic in Australia said, “the road to success is always under construction.”

Congratulations to Brittni and Patrice – what a successful seminar! The IPWSO will offer its last ECHO session on May 18, 2022.

To learn more about the topics discussed in this session, please email the Latham Centers team at Admissions@lathamcenters.org. To learn more about ECHO, please visit https://ipwso.org/how-we-can-help/project-echo/.

Submitted by Katrina Kozak

CAPTION of image(s):   Screenshots of Wednesday’s ECHO session.