Latham’s Prader-Willi Syndrome Social Skill’s Group: Part Three

May is PWS Awareness Month. Our Social Skill’s groups met to do our part to increase awareness. This included young men and women between the ages of 13-21. We answered the following questions together. Some of these are questions that the PWSA (USA) Advisory Board answered at the end of last year in the newsletter. Some are questions from the book; “Prader-Willi Syndrome Is What I Have Not Who I am!” We are hoping to have our answers published in the second addition. Thanks for taking the time to read our answers and getting to know us!

It is hard to be a good friend when…

You are in a bad mood, you have different opinions, they are not being respectful…

What makes me special?

Being helpful, being kind, being a friend, being respectful, being sweet, being complimented, being honest, Special Olympic medals


My personal goals:

To go to college, Project Forward, jobs (office assistant, police officer, construction worker, president of the whole wide world), continue education, be a vet, behave, be safe, to go home, be a good big sister, having children, good day in school, not picking, working with others with PWS, giving recued animals a second chance/home, getting married, find old love, help wild animals…

What do you want others to know about living with PWS?

We have food disorders, we can be obese if not watched with food, we can have a hard time growing—we might need growth hormone, sometimes we get extra sleepy, we are very curious—we like to get information, sometimes we have problems with muscle tone and balance, sometimes we aren’t fully developed—we don’t always get Periods, most of us seem to wear glasses, sometimes things are hard for us, sometimes life is hard, we are people too, we have feelings, life isn’t awful, we have special needs, sometimes we have one foot longer than another, we’re friendly, we can be nice and kind, it is hard for us to deal with tragedies, because of our trouble with balance we might not be able to ride two wheeled bikes, it is hard on our parents to keep us safe/secure, we are hard workers, we are awesome…

"The great majority of men are bundles of beginnings."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Related Posts:
Social Skills Group: Part 1
Social Skills Group: Part 2
PWS Worries

Latham’s Prader-Willi Syndrome Social Skill’s Group: Part Two

May is PWS Awareness Month. Our Social Skill’s groups met to do our part to increase awareness. This included young men and women between the ages of 13-21. We answered the following questions together. Some of these are questions that the PWSA (USA) Advisory Board answered at the end of last year in the newsletter. Some are questions from the book; “Prader-Willi Syndrome Is What I Have Not Who I am!” We are hoping to have our answers published in the second addition. Thanks for taking the time to read our answers and getting to know us!
What makes me feel anxious?

Waiting for parents to come, home visits, seeing others going on home visits, level system, when people let you down, weight related issues, when we do not get the right food, waiting for meds…

What makes me angry?

When you get dropped a level, when people don’t mind their business, when people don’t share, when you get accused of something, when people call you names, when people are bossy, someone telling a lie, getting a bad grade…

What are the issues in your life where you need better control?

People being unsafe around you, safety around food, anger, handling emotions, following directions, handling someone you know dying, disagreeing with others, my behavior, my laundry, meds., problems with family, social skills, money, budgeting, buying food, driving, water temperature, school work, showers/hygiene , stopping picking, When I’m missing people, dealing with extra food around, time management, boundaries, exercise…
What makes a “good friend?”

Being kind to peers, sharing (Wii), respecting others, listening when someone speaks, respecting personal space, saying “excuse me,”
getting to know the other person, having dinner conversation…

"Drag your thoughts away from your troubles... by the ears, by the heels, or any other way you can manage it."
~Mark Twain

Latham’s Prader-Willi Syndrome Social Skill’s Group: Part One

May is PWS Awareness Month. Our Social Skill’s groups met to do our part to increase awareness. This included young men and women between the ages of 13-21. We answered the following questions together. Some of these are questions that the PWSA (USA) Advisory Board answered at the end of last year in the newsletter. Some are questions from the book; “Prader-Willi Syndrome Is What I Have Not Who I am!” We are hoping to have our answers published in the second addition. Thanks for taking the time to read our answers and getting to know us!

What makes you happy?

Go carts, puzzle books, golf, swimming, family, reading books, vacation with family, horses, music, getting new movie, computer, visiting friends, being in a relationship—having boyfriend/girlfriend, fishing tournament, siblings, people we love, basketball, weddings, special occasions, special Olympics, pets, our school dog, going home, feeling loved, horseback riding, parade, staff, games, walks, exercise (for some), church community, people that care, outings, food, Taco Tuesdays, rice and beans, nice weather, sunny days, in winter—snow, pizza, cheats, chili, level 1, ice cream cake, beach, candy, Krista K’s, Chinese food, donuts, going to the mall, shopping, going to work, meatballs, front seat, birthdays, dates, Christmas, Thanksgiving, getting something new, Halloween, laughing, Earth day, other holidays( Labor Day, 4th of July, Mother’s day, Father’s day, grandparent’s day, Groundhog day, New Year’s day), friends, going to friend’s house, sleeping, time off, coloring, drawing, crafts, rollerblades, bicycling, my own bed, p.j. days, orchids, taking a bubble bath…


Sometimes I’m sad. PWS makes me sad…

When Mom says “No” about going to lunch, someone else going out to eat—NOT ME!, being teased about PWS, waiting for family visits, being homesick…

I’m proud of myself when…

I’m helping out other people, getting to level 1, I’m happy, I’m told I’m “handsome,” it’s my birthday, I’m doing a good job, I get an award, I do homework, I’m given a compliment, I’m at Special Olympics, I win medals, I win a game…

"There is just one life for each of us: our own."
~Euripides

Related Posts:
Top Ten Reasons Latham Excels in PWS Residential Placement
PWS Worries
Latham Profiles: Jonathan Smith