Name of

Exceptional
ity

Definition & Alberta

Education Code

Williams
Syndrome

It is a genetic condition that is

present at birth and can affect
anyone. It is characterized by
medical problems, including
cardiovascular disease, mild
to moderate intellectual
delays and learning
disabilities. These occur side
by side with striking verbal
abilities highly social
personalities and an affinity
for music.
Code: 54, 55, 58.

Characteristics &/or
Observable Behaviours

Teaching Strategies and

Resources

Distinctive pixie like facial

1.Give clear, brief directions. Have the
features.
student repeat the directions back
Short stature, slight build.
to you to monitor comprehension.
Limited mobility in the joints
By simplifying the language you can
Curvature of the spine
reduce the students habit of
Cardiovascular disease
echoing or repetition that may be
Trying to talk non-stop, persistent
due to poor comprehension of
questioning and use of language as
complex language and directions.
a distraction when a task is too
2.Use the students strong verbal skills
hard.
to learn new skills by using self-talk
Smiling a lot, being gregarious and
through a task or activity. (ex. First
overly empathetic
I have to __, then have to __)
Being overactive, with a pervasive 3.To reduce anxiety and the number of
lack of attention,
questions asked teach strategies for
Having narrowed interests with very
self-monitoring, such as making and
high levels of focus
using daily lists and personal
Repetitive motor patterns
checklists.
Poor motor coordination
4.Design math tasks and materials that
Extreme sensitivity to certain
consider spatial organization and
sounds
fine motor difficulties. Ex. reduce
Hearing impairments
the amount of information on a
May have strengths in verbal shortpage; provide a window box
term memory and spoken language,
template to view one question at a
combined with weaknesses in
time; provide graph paper to align
comprehension, gross and fine
numbers correctly.
motor skills and visual-spatial skills.

Links &/or Sources

Williams Syndrome
Association:
https://williamssyndrome.org/what-iswilliams-syndrome
Students with
disabilities/medical
conditions:
http://www.education.alber
ta.ca/admin/supportingstu
dent/diverselearning.aspx
Williams syndrome
foundation. Guidelines for
teachers:
http://www.williamssyndrome.org.uk/resources
/free_publications/Guidelin
es%20for%20Teachers.pdf