ASPIRE Blog

Available in Flyer size – 8.5×11 and Two poster sizes.

Many students with PANS/PANDAS have IEPs. During this period, many schools a being closed for extended periods completely while others are closing temporarily to make plans for remote teaching. The U.S. Department of Education lays out Questions and Answers on the states’ responsibilities for children with disabilities. Below we have pasted in two questions covered in the document. One is, if a school closes due to COVID-19 and provides no education to the general ed students, do they have to provide services to those with IEPs. The answer is No. The second is if the school is closed but providing educational services to the general ed students, do they have to provide those with disabilities educational services too? The answer is yes, to the best of their ability, under FAPE. Please read through the entire document as there are many other related topics covered including information on what happens when the child has COVID-19 and can’t attend.

** Please note that many, if not all meetings have been cancelled for March and April. Please contact the support group directly with questions. If you would like to be added to this Support Group round up, please email us at Family Support Committee. Updated Support Group information is due by the last Monday of […]

Vitalant & ASPIRE Community Plasma Drive March 15 – May 15 – locations throughout the country What to know more about Plasma Donation? ASPIRE has created an easy to understand guide to Plasma Donation.  Interested in hosting a drive near you? It is really easy, we provide you with all the materials. All you have […]

Whether you think PANS/PANDAS is a Rare Disease or actually just rarely diagnosed, it is a day to educate people about PANS/PANDAS. The main objective of Rare Disease Day is to raise awareness amongst the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives.

Join ASPIRE in recognizing a doctor who inspires you, who has helped your family heal, who has gone that extra mile, who has listened to you.

We are working on a special “thank you” for all of our physicians who dedicate themselves each & every day to the health of our patients, families & community. If YOU have a PANS/PANDAS doctor you’d like to give a special shout out to, let us know so we can create a special thank you! Your expression of gratitude will be sincerely appreciated.

ASPIRE is thrilled to announce that Children’s Autoimmune Brain Disorder Association (CABDA) will merge with us. We look forward to working together with a shared vision to achieve our mission. Let’s move mountains!

Thank you to ASPIRE donor and supporter, Katie Emmet for opening your amazing space for us to have our Board Meeting and Board and Committee dinner.

CTPPP Wilton Meet Up Group will now be meeting on the First Wednesday of the month!

PANS/PANDAS is a rough road but coming to the ASPIRE Board Meeting table and mapping out a plan for the next quarter and beyond is all four of these opening words: productive, fun, energizing, inspiring.

A million thank you’s to Steve Dupler who owns the fabulous Blue Gallery! He opened the doors to ASPIRE so we could begin work on an advocacy project. Blue Gallery is a gem of a NYC venue and exhibition space just a few blocks from Grand Central!

“Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal infection or PANDAS can also be called post-streptococcal autoimmune basal ganglia encephalitis. Like other forms of autoimmune encephalitis,