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Preparing for the 2021/2022 School Year

While families are buzzing with back-to-school shopping and planning, schools throughout the US are preparing for another unique school year, this time with the Delta COVID-19 variant. Many schools throughout the country are putting more mental health services in place to help with the transition back-to-school this year. The Tourette Association of America (TAA) is here to provide you with resources and tips for this important transition.

To help guide you into the new school year, members of the TAA’s Education Advisory Board have offered advice on transitioning back to school. Below are tips to help reduce anxiety and provide some predictability and routine to the school year.

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Pandemic-related tips

Kate Mielitz, Ph.D., AFC®, TAA Education Advisory Board member, and her children Slaeda and Kaden, offer some back to school tips.

In preparation for the new school year, the daughter of Amanda Coffman, Co-Chair of the Tourette Association of America Education Advisory Board, shares how she is setting up her home for virtual classes!

Kathy Giordano, TAA Education Specialist, shares what parents can do to inform teachers about their child’s Tourette Syndrome once the new school year begins.

Whether your child is learning at home or is going to school using a hybrid model, Heather Simpson, OTD, OTR/L, shares sensory strategies for your family to best adapt to remote learning.

Tips from Youth Ambassadors and Rising Leaders

Noah, TAA Youth Ambassador, explains motor and vocal tics to help teachers better understand Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders.

Adam, TAA Youth Ambassador, shares back to school tips for students who will continue virtual learning for the upcoming fall semester.

Rising Leader Emma shares her experiences and advice on educating teachers and classmates about Tourette Syndrome.

Youth Ambassador Saira shares tips on ways to educate teachers and classmates about Tourette Syndrome, how to disclose COVID-related tics, as well as how to manage and organize school days.

Tourette Association of America Youth Ambassador Will shares his top three tips for virtual learning as he returns to his senior year of high school digitally.

Additional Video Resources