A Message from Executive Director, Sarah Schaefer
Happy Spring, everyone!
In the WSA world, spring in even years means a buzz about one thing — CONVENTION! Here are a few updates about our upcoming International Convention, taking place July 7–11, 2026, in Buffalo, New York.
Some of our team and I visited Buffalo earlier this month for a planning trip. The city is incredibly excited to have us, and it shows — from the Visit Buffalo team to hotel and convention center staff, everyone is working hard to make our time there a success! If you haven't already checked it out, I joined the Starry-Eyed Podcast a few weeks ago to share some convention updates. As we get closer, we'll share tips, resources, maps, and more to help you plan your time in Buffalo.
Speaking of tips — convention registration opens next Tuesday, March 31, at Noon ET. Early next week, we'll share registration tips along with more information about convention events. These will be available on the website, in an email, on social media, and in a video message from me. In the meantime, here are two important tips to keep in mind:
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Read/watch/listen to the Registration Tips BEFORE you begin registering. They should answer many of the questions that come up during the process.
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There is NO need to rush to register! Unlike Phoenix, Buffalo's convention space is very large — events will NOT sell out, and there is no registration cap. Everyone who wants to register will be able to, with space for all at every event. No need to crash the site! (And to our attendees with Williams syndrome who are so eager to get registered — the wait is almost over!)
A quick hotel update: we just learned that construction on the Hyatt Regency has been indefinitely postponed, meaning no renovations will take place before or during the convention. The good news — no risk of noise, dust, or construction disruptions. It may also allow us to add a few rooms back into our room block, so stay tuned! The trade-off is that guest rooms won't have been renovated, and the hotel is beginning to show its age in some ways. That said, it's a lovely property and the staff is committed to ensuring a wonderful stay. We're continuing to work with the Hyatt to ensure everything is clean and in working order. If you're on the hotel wait list, watch for communications from us. If you're still looking for a room, additional hotels are being added to our blocks soon.
Finally — the Knowledge Network is still coming! A few processes in our portal took longer than expected to finalize, but we wanted to make sure accessing these incredible resources would be easy for everyone. Look for an email with more details next month.
So much is happening in the WSA world, but I'll get back to convention prep for now. Wishing you a wonderful April — next up, AWARENESS MONTH!
With deep appreciation,
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Sarah Schaefer
Executive Director
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WSA Social Club
The WSA Social Club — your central hub for all virtual social and connection programs for individuals with Williams syndrome. Parents, caregivers, and siblings are always welcome to join.
All WSA Social Club activities take place virtually on Zoom. From social hangouts to wellbeing groups like Mindfulness Mondays and Wellness Wednesdays, the Social Club brings people together online in a welcoming, inclusive space. You can see what’s coming up and join events anytime by visiting the Social Club page on the WSA website.
Bonus: Monthly hangouts no longer require pre-registration! Simply visit the Social Club page, the Events page, or the Social Club group on Facebook and join when it’s time. You can bookmark the link to join because you’ll join from the same link every month!
Important note:
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WSA Social Club: All virtual wellbeing groups, social hangouts, and future online programs for kids, teens, and adults
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Adventure Seekers: In-person travel experiences only
Join the Social Club for Adults April 14 at 4pm ET or April 16 at 7pm ET
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Teen Social Club!
Our first Teen Social Club hangout in February was a huge success! Continuing in March, the Social Club will be open to teens age 13 - 17! The next hangout will be Wednesday, April 22 at 8pm ET! Parents, this is a safe, supportive space built just for teens ages 13 to 17 to connect and just be themselves.
Be sure to sign up to be added to our mailing list for all things Teen Social Club, and to get the link to join!
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FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS
Looking to connect with other parents and caregivers?
A key part of the WSA Family Support Network is our Virtual Support Groups, where families can share experiences, ask questions, and learn from one another.
Wondering whether a support group might be for you? Check out the groups below for more details on our Family Support Groups.
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FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS & MONTHLY EVENTS
Good news! Support groups no longer require pre-registration! Simply click the link below or the applicable Event on the Events page of the website, and join when it’s time. You can bookmark the link to join because you’ll join from the same link every month!
Wednesday, April 1
Thursday, April 2
Tuesday, April 7 (NEW)
Monday, April 13
Tuesday, April 14
Thursday, April 16
Friday, April 17 (NEW)
Saturday, April 18
Sunday, April 19
Monday, April 20
Wednesday, April 22 (NEW)
Thursday, April 23
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2026 Convention Registration Opens March 31!
Registration to attend the 2026 Convention in Buffalo will open on Tuesday, March 31. During the process, you will purchase registration for parent/caregiver/professional sessions, programming for individuals with WS and their siblings under 18, tickets for all add-on events (including Wrightslaw Training), and extra program t-shirts. Please be prepared to share information about dietary restrictions, any translation services needed, and details on the level of independence/support needed for individuals with Williams syndrome.
During this process, you will NOT need to choose which specific parent/caregiver/professional sessions or round tables you will attend. Registration is already a complex process, without having to choose sessions. The full list of sessions will be released prior to the end of Early Bird Registration, so if you are waiting on a session list to determine if you will attend the convention, you’ll have that information prior to the end of Early Bird pricing. All attendees will register for sessions in June, when the Convention Mobile App is launched.
In case you missed it, a recent Starry Eyed Podcast featured Executive Director Sarah Schaefer sharing helpful insights about the upcoming convention and what to expect during registration, along with tips to make the process as smooth as possible. Be sure to tune in for an inside look as we gear up for March 31!
Click below for the video highlight of Sarah on the podcast!
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Convention Hotel Update
We appreciate your patience as we work to add additional hotel room blocks. We are working through the current wait list and have found additional hotels to add to our blocks. We're finalizing those blocks, and will provide links to those hotels before registration opens. Quick tip - we’ve heard of people having success booking rooms at our current hotels, as people have cancelled their extra rooms or switched hotels. So you may want to check those out from time to time!
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Apply for a Convention Scholarship
For many of our families, attending Convention is a dream—but one they can’t afford on their own. Our goal is to provide scholarships to every family in need, and you can help make that possible. If you’re interested in supporting this effort, we invite you to make a gift online or by mail and note that it is for the Convention Scholarship Fund. If you are in need of a scholarship, please visit the Convention Scholarship page to learn more or apply.
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Sponsorship Opportunities Available
Interested in how you (or someone you know) can make a meaningful impact for our convention? Support our event by becoming one of our convention sponsors. This 4-day key event costs more than $750,000 to execute and utilizes an army of 150+ volunteers per day! Our goal for 2026 is to raise $250,000 in Sponsorships to assist in offsetting expenses so we can ensure the convention is as financially accessible as possible for the 1,500+ attendees. Your support will not only help us put on the event, but also contribute to the well-being and education of individuals with Williams syndrome and their families.
Please click below to view our 2026 WSA Convention Sponsorship Deck and learn how you can be a part of this incredible experience.
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Become an Exhibitor!
Convention is the perfect place to promote books, software, classroom aids, educational opportunities, products, services, or businesses that are relevant to our community. Since our attendees are primarily parents and educators of individuals with WS, hands-on practical tools and excellent educational and assisted living opportunities are of particular interest. Individuals with Williams syndrome are also welcome to share their businesses, and exhibitor fees are waived for them! Visit the Exhibitor Information page for more details or to sign up to be an exhibitor.
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Camp WSA applications close April 15!
Summer camp registration for individuals with WS ages 6 - 20 is in full swing! Applications to be a camper or request a scholarship are ready and waiting for you!
To learn more about Camp WSA, visit the WSA Camp page on our website. Don't forget - registration for camp closes April 15!
Click below to register for camp or apply for a scholarship!
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HEART TALK: A candid conversation about cardiovascular heath, risk and research in Williams syndrome
Join us for an evening with the WSA’s executive director, Sarah Schaefer, and the Armellino Center’s medical director, Dr. Mark Levin, for a conversation about cardiovascular issues in Williams syndrome. They will discuss common questions about cardiovascular health, serious cardiovascular events in WS, and support provided by the WSA, ending with an audience Q&A. Refreshments will be served in the Armellino Center after the talk.
Date: April 17, 2026
Time: 5-7 pm
Location:
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This event is located within the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP). Click here for directions and parking information.
- The lecture will take place in the Flyers/Sixers Surgery Theatre on the ground floor. This is located to the right of the main entrance of HUP.
- There will be a reception following the lecture at ACE-WS.
This event is part of PACES (Parent and Caregiver Education Series), hosted by the Armellino Center of Excellence (ACE) for Williams Syndrome, in partnership with the WSA.
| | The WSA is excited to provide our members with the opportunity to participate in important research studies. Please check out the research opportunities below. | |
Research opportunities
Opportunity 1: Does your child get overly upset in any of these situations:
Brushing hair, using hand dryers, flushing toilets, or hearing loud noises? Are there other specific, predictable triggers? If so, we are looking for your help in developing a new play-based approach to reducing these strong emotional reactions: Development of Behavioral Play Therapy for Anxiety for Children with Williams Syndrome
Opportunity 2: Massachusetts General Hospital and the Lurie Center for Autism are currently recruiting for a research study on Aging in Williams Syndrome: Aging in Williams Syndrome
Opportunity 3: CReWS (the Collaborative Registry for Williams Syndrome) has been developed for, and is owned by, the Williams Syndrome Association. The Registry collects data about the lives of people diagnosed with Williams syndrome (WS) in order to advance our understanding of the condition and its underlying causes and to develop better treatment options for persons with Williams syndrome: CREWS Registry for Williams Syndrome
Opportunity 4: We invite you to take part in a research study led by Caroline G. Richter, Ph.D., at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). This study explores how children and young adults with Williams syndrome, ages 6 to 21, approach moderately challenging tasks and how their motivation relates to academic achievement, language, cognition, and behavior. Motivation in 6-21 year olds with Williams syndrome: Motivation in 6-21 "year olds" with Williams Syndrome
Opportunity 5: A new research opportunity is available from Dr. Robyn Thom at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Lurie Center for Autism. The research team can be reached at luriecenterresearch@mgb.org or by calling 781-860-1711.
The Lurie Center for Autism is recruiting for a study to find biomarkers of anxiety in people with Williams syndrome. One in-person visit to their clinic in Lexington, MA is required: Can Wearable Devices Detect Anxiety
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Shop WSA Merch on Outshine
Looking for a special gift that gives back? Check out our custom collection with Outshine Labels, the online marketplace for disability advocates, where you can get boutique apparel and gifts for anyone on your list, and 70% of profits benefit the WSA.
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