Are there any Tourette-specific Policy Successes?
Yes, The Tourette Association of America has witnessed the powerful role policy has had on developing and implementing best practices for Tourette Syndrome.
In the year 2000, Tourette Syndrome was included for the first time ever in federal legislation when Congress passed and President Bill Clinton signed H.R. 4365, the Children’s Health Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-310).
Tourette Syndrome was given a Title in the law (Title 23); “Children and Tourette Syndrome Awareness.” This law is what authorized grants and programs to educate and train physicians, health care workers, educators, parents and the community about Tourette Syndrome at the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); now in its 12th year program partnership with the Tourette Association.
Again, in 2006, The Tourette Association witnessed policy and put in place best practices in supporting students with disabilities when Tourette Syndrome was included within the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Most recently. In 2013, the second federal legislation known as, the Collaborative Academic Research Efforts (CARE) for Tourette Syndrome Act was introduced to bolster efforts toward research for Tourette Syndrome at the National Institute of Health (NIH). That same year, we witness the historical establishment of a Congressional Tourette Syndrome Caucus in the House of Representatives.
Advocating for public policies and services that promote positive school, work, and social environments to improve the quality of life for all Americans living with Tourette and Tic Disorders is part of our mission. Our Washington, DC Staff, Elridge Proctor, Vice President of Public Policy works with Lawmakers on Capitol Hill to build federal understanding and support of our issues-to Join our Public Policy Team as a Volunteer Advocate and Be the Difference, contact: [email protected].
