Events

Jul
26
Tue
RettEd | Transitioning into Adulthood, Part 1: Medical Transition
Jul 26 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Date: July 26, 2022 Time: 1-2 p.m. Eastern Time The first in a 3-part series on topics pertaining to adulthood in Rett syndrome, this session will provide strategies and resources to empower and prepare you and your young adult for the transition from pediatric to adult medical care. Medical transition is not a one-size-fits-all process, and this workshop-style talk will empower your family to have the best, most family-centered transition of care possible. The session will include stories from other caregivers and individuals in the Rett community and further expand on topics and questions from the session at IRSF’s ASCEND 2022 Rett Syndrome National Summit. Speakers: Jessica Nickrand is a program manager at the Child Neurology Foundation (CNF). She supports CNF’s Transition of Care Program—its largest and most diverse program—which helps to support youth, families, and child neurology teams in the medical transition. Jessica holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and is passionate about developing programs that empower young adults and their caregivers to effect systems-level change.  Paige Nues is the Director of Family Empowerment for the International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF). Since her daughter, Katie’s diagnosis of Rett syndrome in 2003, Paige has worked diligently to build bridges between patient families, clinicians, scientists, and industry, both at IRSF and as a parent founder of Katie’s Clinic for Rett and Related Disorders at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. Thank you to our RettEd Empowerment Sponsor, Acadia Pharmaceuticals, for helping IRSF provide educational resources and support to families affected by Rett syndrome. INFORMATION & REGISTRATION Medical Disclaimer: All information, content, and material provided in this webcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Aug
1
Mon
RettEd | What Comes Next? The FDA Regulatory Process from NDA to FDA Decision and Beyond
Aug 1 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2022 Time: 3 p.m. EDT With the recent news about trofinetide’s new drug application (NDA) submitted to the FDA, we are entering a new space for Rett syndrome: FDA Review. While this is the first time for Rett, it won’t be the last, and our community has a lot of great questions: “What does submitting an NDA mean? What’s the next step? How much longer? When will we have an approved treatment? How will my loved one get access to this treatment?” To answer these questions and many more, IRSF is excited to bring back FDA expert, James Valentine, Esq., to join IRSF’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Dominique Pichard for a live webinar. Join them as they review the FDA regulatory process, share what happens between a successful Phase 3 clinical trial and an FDA decision about a drug or therapeutic, and explain what could come next for trofinetide and the Rett community. Thank you to our RettEd Empowerment Sponsor, Acadia Pharmaceuticals, for helping IRSF provide educational resources and support to families affected by Rett syndrome. INFORMATION & REGISTRATION Medical Disclaimer: All information, content, and material provided in this webcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Sep
27
Tue
RettEd Webinar | Transitioning into Adulthood, Part 2: Lifecare Planning
Sep 27 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Date: September 27, 2022 Time: 1-2 p.m. Eastern Time The second in our 3-part series on topics pertaining to adulthood in Rett, this online workshop focuses on preparing for life post-high school when school services and support conclude. Geared for parents, guardians, and family members of the older teen and adult with Rett syndrome, this session will cover:
  • Legal Planning: Special Needs Trusts, Letter/Memorandum of Intent, Guardianship
  • Financial Planning: How to fund a Special Needs Trust, ABLE accounts, and more
  • Benefit Planning: Finding and accessing federal benefits like SSI & SSDI, Medicaid, Waivers, etc.
  • Defining Your Replacement Team: What happens when you can no longer provide direct care alone?
Speaker: Kacy Seitz is a financial planner with a Northwestern Mutual practice that serves nearly 500 special needs families in 28 states. As a special needs parent to 12-year-old Hudsyn (a friend of Samantha Brant’s daughter, Macy!), Kacy is all-too-familiar with the common fears you may have in learning about the topic of long-term planning for your child. In fact, she opened her practice in 2013 because she had difficulty finding good, sound advice to help her develop a solid plan for her daughter. Now, Kacy has personally trained and mentored hundreds of other advisors on how to do this type of planning for their clients, focusing on helping special needs families with proper financial planning throughout their lifetimes. Thank you to our RettEd Empowerment Sponsor, Acadia Pharmaceuticals, for helping IRSF provide educational resources and support to families affected by Rett syndrome. INFORMATION & REGISTRATION Medical Disclaimer: All information, content, and material provided in this webcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Dec
6
Tue
RettEd Webinar | Transitioning into Adulthood, Part 3
Dec 6 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Date: December 6, 2022 Time: 1-2 pm ET INFORMATION & REGISTRATION Quality of Life Options by Real-Life Families Every individual with Rett syndrome is unique and while our paths may be similar, no family’s Rett journey is the same. This is especially true as our children grow into adults; while they don’t outgrow their need for us, there is no one ideal or specific policy roadmap to help navigate our loved ones’ Rett journey into adulthood. But with proper planning, goals, and vision, we can ensure this journey leads to an enriched adulthood. In the 3rd talk in our 3-part series on navigating adulthood in Rett syndrome, join us for a candid conversation with families who have navigated this process to provide the best quality of care, constructing meaningful lives for their adult loved ones while caring for themselves too. Learn about what you need to change, what needs to be secured, and what creative living and life options are out there for your adult with Rett syndrome from families who have been through this before. The panel includes:
  • Paul and Janelle Jochim, parents to Jill (age 46)
  • Megan Ladenburger and Mom Shanna Sowers, sister and mom to Brittany (age 34)
  • Theresa Bartolotta, mom to Lisa (age 33)
  • Moderator: Paige Nues, IRSF Family Empowerment Director and mom to Katie (age 20)
  • Special Guest: Sheila Lullo, Special Projects Coordinator of Quality Outcomes at Clearbrook in Illinois, a provider of community-based residential options, day programs, and more to adult individuals with special needs.
Join us for the webinar as our panel shares their real-life experiences and the process they went through in choosing Day Programs, Self-Directed Programming, Residential Care, and more. Thank you to our RettEd Empowerment Sponsor, Acadia Pharmaceuticals, for helping IRSF provide educational resources and support to families affected by Rett syndrome. Medical Disclaimer: All information, content, and material provided in this webcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.