Mission
ANGELMAN SYNDROME (AS) IS A NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER CHARACTERIZED BY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT DELAYS AND SEVERE SPEECH IMPAIRMENT. A FEW INDIVIDUALS WITH AS DEVELOP FUNCTIONAL SPEECH, BUT MOST COMMUNICATE THROUGH A MIXTURE OF GESTURES, EYE GAZE, ADAPTED SIGN LANGUAGE AND AUGUMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION DEVICES. INDIVIDUALS WITH AS HAVE DEVELOPMENT DELAY AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. CURRENT RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT NEURONAL DEVELOPMENT OCCURS CORRECTLY IN AS, BUT NEURONAL FUNCTIONING IS IMPAIRED. THIS NEURONAL IMPAIRMENT IMPACTS THE INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO LEARN IN THAT SKILLS ARE ACQUIRED LESS RAPIDLY THAN IN AGE-MATCHED PEERS. THE FOUNDATION FOR ANGELMAN SYNDROME THERAPEUTICS IS AN ORGANIZATION OF FAMILIES AND PROFESSIONALS DEDICATED TO FINDING A CURE FOR AS AND RELATED DISORDERS THROUGH THE FUNDING OF AN AGRESSIVE RESEARCH AGENDA, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT. FAST IS COMMITTED TO ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH AS TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND QUALITY OF LIFE.