Pathways Education Series
by Carla D’Imperio, PMSF Director of Family Support.
We are excited to share details about our Pathways Education Series, which will meet throughout 2025. This will be a monthly series of webinars of different topics that have been chosen by our families. Some of these topics are brand new and we have never covered them before. Please note that webinar topics are subject to change. Check back for updates and new sessions!
Please scroll down to register for our next webinar. Further down the page you will find recordings and slides from all previous sessions offered in 2025.
JUNE: Diving into State Resources (US focus)
Tuesday, June 24th, 11am to 12pm ET
Join us for our June Pathways Education Series webinar, Diving into State Resources, hosted by Ali Niemi, who is a state resource expert and Phelan-McDermid syndrome mom. Ali will explore key state resources for individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome, including HCBS waivers, SSI, Medicaid, school-based supports, and more. We’ll cover practical steps and provide tools to help families and professionals access the support they need and what support they can expect from their state. A Q&A session will follow to address your specific questions.
We are excited to offer this topic and we hope you will join us. Please click the link below to register! Please note that this session will be recorded and the recording link will be sent to everyone who registers.
PATHWAYS EDUCATION SERIES SESSION ARCHIVES
JANUARY: How to Talk about Phelan McDermid Syndrome
It can be challenging to explain your child’s diagnosis to different groups of people in different settings. Our families may face uncomfortable questions, awkward comments, and invasive stares when they are out and about in the world. Sometimes we are caught off-guard and we can’t come up with an answer or response in the moment.
Please join us as we explore how to share about Phelan-McDermid syndrome with curious members of the general public, our children’s peers, extended family, and more! We hope you will leave our session with some concrete answers and talking points that you can use out in the community.
FEBRUARY: De-escalation Strategies for Crisis Situations
Individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome may exhibit challenging behaviors, which may become more difficult to manage as the child gets older. When handling difficult behaviors with our teenage and adult children with Phelan-McDermid syndrome, there are strategies we can use to help minimize the impact and extent of these behaviors.
During this session, we will learn about de-escalation strategies and how to apply them in challenging situations that can arise in our day-to-day lives with Phelan-McDermid syndrome. This session will be facilitated by Cory Sutton, Law Enforcement Liaison and Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Dad.
MARCH: Medical Advocacy and Strategies
In this session, we’ll explore how to advocate for your child in medical settings. We’ll discuss effective advocacy strategies, help caregivers build confidence in addressing concerns, and talk about what to do when you feel unheard. We’ll also examine the role of bias and privilege in medical interactions and hear from caregivers about their personal experiences.
APRIL: Puberty, Menstrual Management, and Women’s Health in Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
MAY: Handling Denials from Insurance and Medicaid
In this webinar, you will learn how to navigate insurance and Medicaid denials with confidence. This session will covers common reasons for denials, how to file appeals, tips for building strong cases, and next steps after appealing. You’ll leave with practical steps and resources to help secure the services and support your child or adult with Phelan-McDermid syndrome needs. This session is hosted by Carla D’Imperio, PMSF Director of Family Support with guest speaker Michael D’Imperio, Esq.