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INTRODUCTION TO WILLIAMS SYNDROME

Video: Introduction to Williams Syndrome

What is Williams syndrome?

Williams syndrome is a developmental disorder that is characterized by cardiovascular problems, intellectual or learning disabilities, distinctive facial features, and a sociable personality.

WHAT CAUSES WILLIAMS SYNDROME?

An individual is determined to have Williams syndrome through genetic testing if there is a deletion in an area called the Williams-Beuren syndrome critical region of the genetic sequence. In most cases, the syndrome occurs because of a genetic error in the formation of reproductive cells, but it can be passed on from parent to child as well.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY WILLIAMS SYNDROME?

The prevalence of Williams syndrome is estimated to be 1 in every 7,500 to 10,000 people. In the United States, approximately twenty to thirty thousand adults are affected by this condition.

Communication and Literacy Strengths

expressive language skills
have strong emotional recognition
tend to have a very social and engaging personality
statistical vocabulary learning-word-object associations
phonemic awareness
long-term memory

Communication and Literacy Weaknesses

delay in the appearance of first words and language acquisition
higher frequency of hesitations and repetitions in speech
delays in reading development
visual-spatial analysis skills

Interventions

assessment of communication skills:
- should be conducted at an early age in order to determine individual strengths and weaknesses
- focus on vocabulary acquisition, pragmatic and conceptual language
narrative skills:
- visual supports for practice
- explicit feedback during narrative practice, including when to expand and give more detail
- progressive scaffolding to support independence

reading instruction:
- teachers should actively explain and model the phonics in the text
- because individuals with Williams syndrome have a strong working memory, provide explicit instruction on language rules
comprehension strategies:
- should encourage rereading sections of text, utilizing prior knowledge, and summarizing what the individual has learned

Useful Resources

Williams Syndrome Association:

General Information: https://williams-syndrome.org/what-is-ws/general-information
For Educators: https://williams-syndrome.org/featured-education-resources
For Parents: https://williams-syndrome.org/what-is-ws
Links to Further Resources: https://williams-syndrome.org/resources

U.S. National Library of Medicine:

Acknowledgements to Alyssa Capucilli (Biscuit Wins a Prize), Compflight, Freepik, Icons8, Moovly, U.S. National Library of Medicine, and Williams Syndrome Association