Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD) Educating Teachers about Prader-Willi Syndrome

October 11, 2013

VKC Senior Research Specialist Elizabeth Roof was invited by the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) to develop a training video and companion toolkit for educators on practical teaching strategies for supporting students with Prader-Willi syndrome. Available on YouTube, the 25-minute video delineates between behavior challenges that teachers can address on their own and those behaviors that might require outside assistance from behavior specialists. The toolkit provides free downloadable tools such as visual schedules and behavior modification charts that were developed with a teacher's busy schedule in mind.

"Teachers are so busy teaching, it is hard for them to think about managing behavior challenges," said Roof. "We wanted to develop a resource through that is easy to follow and access. Also, Prader-Willi syndrome is rare. Teachers may only have one student in their entire careers, so having a tool like this available to them online that they can access and refer back to when relevant is key to improving success in the classroom."

• Watch the Prader-Willi Syndrome Teacher Tips  video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5LhSePDvqk
• Open the Toolbox here:
  http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1101682021419-194/Tips+for+Teachers.pdf
• For additional information on how the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center works with individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome, see kc.vanderbilt.edu
• For additional information about the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA), see www.pwsausa.org.