Introduction to Williams Syndrome
A new special center was opened on Tuesday at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. It is one of the first in the country to help children and adults with Williams syndrome, a rare illness that makes them particularly friendly.
The Armellino Center of Excellence
"This center will be changing life for families," said the director of the Armellino Center of Excellence for Williams Syndrome. The director has a personal connection to the disorder, having researched it for decades and then having a child born with the disease. "Suddenly I went from a scientist who understood the Williams syndrome very deeply, in a way to a mother who tried to find out what do you do with a child who has these different challenges?"
Facilities and Services
The center includes a sensory space with different lights and playful distractions to facilitate anxiety, which is common for people with Williams syndrome. In cooperation with the children’s hospital in Philadelphia, the Center for Adults and Children with Williams syndrome will offer comprehensive care and research, which is often associated with serious heart problems and social challenges.
Characteristics of Williams Syndrome
"A behavior that is very characteristic of the Williams syndrome, which is sometimes referred to as a cocktail party syndrome … is this incredible friendliness, hyper-social," said the director. "And what it really is is just a completely uninhibited social approach." The son of the director has mental disabilities, a main symptom of William’s syndrome.
Treatment and Hope
With the right types of early interventions, people can thrive with Williams. This center will help to do this and to look for better treatments and new hope for a better future. An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people in the United States have Williams syndrome, in which genetic tests are diagnosed. The center aims to provide a better life for families affected by this rare illness.
