Details

The Tourette Association of America Oklahoma Chapter is a volunteer led, nonprofit organization supporting the needs of individuals and families affected by Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders. We are committed to raising public awareness and fostering social acceptance; advancing scientific understanding, treatment options and care; educating professionals to better serve the needs of children, adults and families challenged by Tourette and Tic Disorders; advocating for public policies and services that promote positive school, work and social environments; Providing help, hope and a supportive community across the nation; and empowering our community to deal with the complexities of this spectrum of disorders.

The Oklahoma Chapter provides support to Oklahoma families and individuals affected by Tourette. It does that in several ways: sponsoring support groups centered in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Stillwater; conducting teacher and school in-service training; providing information on educational IEPs and 504s; and answering questions regarding student behavior and associated conditions. The Oklahoma Chapter actively seeks to involve young adults in the Tourette Association of America’s Youth Ambassador and Rising Leader programs and also sponsors a post-secondary scholarship program for high school graduates.

Events

 

 

Services

Support Group

Oklahoma Chapter support groups are intended to provide information and support to parents of children with Tourette, as well as children and adults with Tourette. Topics may include tics, behavior, peer relationships, co-occurring conditions, school and education, doctors and medication, family relationships, etc. Support groups meet as needed. Prior to the pandemic, meetings were in person but may be via Zoom to accommodate pandemic safety guidelines and to accommodate persons living far from support group sites. Support group locations and coordinators are:

Contact any of the above coordinators to learn more and request a support group meeting.

Youth and Young Adult Programs

The TAA Youth Ambassador Program brings together, trains and supports teens to advocate for and talk about Tourette and Tic Disorders in their community, with their elected officials and before their peers at school, sports leagues, scout troops, camps and after-school programs. Learn More

Youth Ambassadors are 12-17 years of age and go through a training program along with their parent or guardian, thus comprising a Youth Ambassador team. Oklahoma currently has two Youth Ambassadors, each of whom has had unique opportunities and experiences as a result of the program. Each can attest to how important the program has been for them.

· Bryant – The Youth Ambassador program has been very influential to me and I am very grateful. I have learned so much more about TS and I have met so many others that share this condition when I had never met anyone like me.

· Kaden – I like the Youth Ambassador program because I get to help people. I get to talk to classes about Tourette to help other students not get bullied. I also get to work with my mom to train future teachers to know what it’s like to have Tourette from the student’s point of view.

Rising Leader Program

The Rising Leaders program is a way for aged-out Youth Ambassadors and young adults to continue growing their leadership skills and advocating for persons with Tourette. Oklahoma has one former Youth Ambassador currently serving as a Rising Leader. In that capacity, Olivia has traveled across the country giving anti-bullying and inclusion presentations on Tourette to students, teachers, and school administrators. She also founded a non-profit organization that teaches children with Tourette how to advocate for themselves in the classroom.

Education Information

Teacher In-Service Training

The TAA conducts teacher, staff, and administrator in-service presentations around the state with various schools on an as needed basis. It can make a tremendous difference in your child’s academic experience to have the school teachers, staff, administrators, and students educated about the many facets of TS. Learn More

Two Oklahoma Chapter Board members are trained Education Specialists by the TAA (Karen Woodrich, Miriam Ward). Each is available to assist with in-school training for teachers, staff, administrators, and students. Each also can accompany parents during IEP meetings.

School Services and Parent Advocacy

A wealth of information is available for Oklahoma parents of school age children. Some information pertains to advocating for your child in the school with tips on how to approach teachers and administrators. Other information pertains to creating specialized programs (an IEP or a 504 Plan) for your child to help her/him be successful and to work with the school system to find the best avenue for learning for your child. Learn more by clicking the links below.

Education Effective Advocacy

Education Parent Checklist

Education Oklahoma School Information

Education Oklahoma Family Guidelines

Post-Secondary Scholarships

The Oklahoma Chapter of the Tourette Association of America received an unexpected bequeath from a deceased individual’s estate. Current Chapter members have no knowledge of the history of this person’s connection to Tourette Syndrome or someone with Tourette. The Board of Directors thoughtfully considered how to use the generous gift. The Board believes our Chapter’s scholarship program is a living legacy to this individual’s generosity. Necessary information for potential applicants can be found by clicking on the links below.

Scholarship Guidelines

Scholarship Application

Scholarship Essay

Scholarship Reference

Scholarship Release

Oklahoma Video

Both for parents and for the individual diagnosed with Tourette, the symptoms and diagnosis can be a bit unnerving, because there is so much uncertainty. The Tourette Association of America (TAA) has excellent resources and you can learn much from the documentary at You Tube, “I Have Tourette’s, But Tourette’s Doesn’t Have Me.” However, the Oklahoma Chapter wanted a video featuring Oklahoma parents and persons with Tourette (children and adults), so the Chapter produced, “In Your Own Words.”

Leadership

Karen Woodrich, Chair, [email protected], 918-694-0080
Karen is both a wife and mother to individuals with Tourette. Besides being Chair of the Oklahoma Chapter, she is active in the Tourette Association of America. Karen works part-time as a Disability Rights Advocate and has lobbied on Capitol Hill for more inclusive policies for people with Tourette on multiple occasions. She has also worked full-time as a Structural Prototype Designer for over 40 years. Her daughter, Olivia, was a Youth Ambassador and Rising Leader.

Clem Ward, Secretary & Treasurer,
Clem is a father to a son with Tourette. He has served the Oklahoma Chapter as its Treasurer since 2001. Clem is a former economist, now retired from Oklahoma State University.

Ashley Butler, Board Member
Ashley is a mother to a daughter with Tourette and works full-time as an RN. She has been a board member of the Oklahoma Chapter for several years.

Darla Chitsey, Board Member, [email protected], 405-343-9211
Darla is one of the more recent additions to the Board. She is a mother of a son with Tourette, who was also a Youth Ambassador and Rising Leader, and the recipient of an Oklahoma Chapter post-secondary scholarship.

Ed Collins, Board Member
Ed is on the faculty in Special Education at the University of Central Oklahoma. He has specialized in school related aspects of Tourette and associated disorders for nearly four decades, focusing on information for parents related to IEPs and 504s. Ed is also a specialist in AI training as it relates to special education development and usage. He has been recognized for his contribution to the Tourette Association of America and has been involved with the Oklahoma Chapter since its inception.

Michael Lewis, Board Member, [email protected], 918-946-0188
Mike has Tourette and is a science teacher at Union Public School in Tulsa. He has been active in S.T.E.M. workshops with NASA and the U.S. Naval Academy, as well as educational institutions in Oklahoma. Mike is an author, actor and director, and has served as a judge for the Miss Oklahoma Teen pageant.

Dana Oliver, Board Member
Dana, the newest board member, is a faculty member in the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Her son, Parker, has Tourette and is a Tourette Association of America Junior Youth Ambassador. Dana's work in education focuses on addressing the needs of students with varying reading abilities and training preservice and practicing teachers in the areas of assessment and intervention. Dana and Parker have given numerous presentations about Tourette at higher learning institutions across Oklahoma.

Justin Ward, Board Member
Justin is an adult with Tourette. He graduated from Saint Gregory University with a degree in computer programming and works for a local physician while attending school part-time.

Miriam "Mimi" Ward, Board Member
Mimi is a mother of a son with Tourette and a former special education teacher. She is now retired from Oklahoma State University. Mimi has been active in the Tourette Association of American and the Oklahoma Chapter for over 30 years. She is a former Chapter Chair and has conducted numerous teacher in-service trainings across the state of Oklahoma.

Olivia Woodrich, Board Member
Olivia is an adult with Tourette, a former Rising Leader, and now employed by the Tourette Association of America. She is a graduate of Oral Roberts University, with a BA in Political Science and Pre-Law. For her social activism work related to Tourette, she received the prestigious Diana Award from the Prince of Wales, and the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama. She has been interviewed by several media outlets about Tourette (TLC, PBS, Fox News, Cox Radio, Buzzfeed, and People Magazine (online)). Olivia has also participated in the Miss America pageant system where she has held multiple titles.