Conferences

PRISMS is proud to sponsor international educational conferences where families and professionals can come together to learn and support each other. Our conferences are typically held every 2-3 years. These conferences are a major program for our group. Please make every effort to attend these important events.

PRISMS 7th International Conference will be held June 28 - July 1, 2012 in Denver, CO, at the Denver Renaissance Hotel.  Please see the 2012 International Conference page for more information.

Our 6th International Conference, "Building Bridges of Hope", took place September 17-20, 2009, at the Reston Hyatt Hotel in Reston, VA. Families and professionals from all parts of the globe, (including Japan, Canada, Mexico, Iceland, The Philippines, Denmark, UK, France, Australia and the US), came together for 3 days to learn, share, advocate, support and celebrate all that is SMS. This was our largest gathering thus far, with over 335 persons in attendance. Attendees participated in lectures and workshops, including research updates on Smith-Magenis Syndrome, effective behavioral strategies, genetics 101, sibling workshop, fitness for your SMS child, speech & communication strategies, estate planning, advocacy & awareness, puberty and adult issues, independent living, and "the inner toddler." Many of our PRISMS parents presented these lectures, as their expertise is invaluable and real and their strategies "perfected." The conference was energized by the presence of our SMS children, (ranging in age from infants to adults), who were much a part of the conference activities, and were helping hands wherever they were needed. Rick Guidotti, (Positive Exposure), was ever-present, photographing our SMS children and capturing their fabulous personalities! The conference also included a very successful silent auction, (our fourth silent auction), with all proceeds benefitting PRISMS. We closed our conference on Sunday with a Parent Panel, whereby four families shared their stories and journeys while raising a child with SMS.

Preceding the conference, on Thursday, September 17th, was the 5th SMS Research Roundtable. The Research Roundtable gathered the Professional Advisory Board and other researchers and professionals from various research sites for a time of collaboration, discussion and planning, to further the research of SMS. The Research Roundtable works in tandem with the goals of the PRISMS conference, and the reinforces the partnership between "parents and researchers."

The conference was supported by:
National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health, Office of Rare Diseases, Gene Dx, Quest Diagnostics-Nichols Institute and KIDS PLUS.

Our 5th International Conference, "Buliding Bridges of Hope", was held May10-13, 2007 in Reston, VA. The conference was attended by 300 family members and professionals; our largest turnout yet. The conference began with a welcome reception on Thursday, filled with dancing, singing and magic tricks! It was a wonderful kickoff to he busy days ahead in conference sessions. The conference ended with the conclusion of the Silent Auction and our Mother's Day breakfast on Sunday. Thank you to all who supported the conference with their hard work, dedication and enthusiasm.

Our 4th International Conference "Building Bridges of Hope" was held on April 29 - May 1, 2005 in Cincinnati, OH. The parent conference was preceeded by a Research Roundtable held on April 28th. The Research Roundtable was co-moderated by PRISMS PAB members, Ann Smith, MA, and Sarah Elsea, Ph.D. We want to thank the Office of Rare Diseases and the National Human Genome Research Institute (SMS Research Unit at NIH) for their generous funding support of this conference.