The upcoming school year will be vastly different in light of COVID-19. Whether classes are held in-person or virtually, the Tourette Association of America is here to provide you with resources and tips for every type of classroom setting.
We understand that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to school this year. School attendance is particularly unique. Everyone has different ideas and opinion. Know that the choices you make are what’s best for you and your family.
To help guide you into the new school year, members of the TAA’s Education Advisory Board have offered advice on best practices that will help reduce anxiety and give some predictability and routine to the school year.
- Get into a sleep and morning routine two weeks before school starts to help keep your child healthy and reduce stress.
- Most students will be working from home at some point. Have a space dedicated to schoolwork where your child can focus and be most productive.
- When working from home, find exercises that can be done during break times. Mindfulness breaks may be helpful as well. Have a plan for what will work best and when.
- If your child is having trouble wearing a mask, find a mask that is most comfortable for your child. Build in time each day for your child to keep his or her mask on. Try to extend the amount of time the mask is worn each day.
- Plan ahead with your child’s school for specific sensory breaks. Students will likely be sitting in one spot for a longer period of time.
- Have either hard copies or electronic copies of the TAA’s Educator Toolkits to give to everyone working with your or your child. View the tool kit, as well as additional resources, below. To order hard copies, email info@tourette.org.
- You or your child can write a one-page email or a letter to all educators and highlight your strengths, symptoms, and accommodations that work best.
- You can plan on educating staff and peers about Tourette Syndrome either in-person or virtually. A letter to all teachers and support staff from the parent, child, or both can be helpful. Consider, also, making a very short video that you can share with teachers and/or peers. You can also contact us at (718) 224-2999 to help educate peers and staff at your school. You can also contact us at info@tourette.org.
- If your child has an IEP and receives services at school, it will be important to communicate with your school on what these services will look like. It may be more important than ever to have support with managing assignments.
- Your child is listening and can pick up on your anxiety. Share that school is going to look different for your family this year. It is important to be positive about the decisions you have made for school.
- Listen to your child’s concerns about the school year. Are there plans you can put in place to reduce a particular stressor? That way you can be more prepared to help them with their emotions during the first few weeks of school.
- Communicate with your school about any anxiety your child or teen is facing either with online learning or going back to school. A school counselor or social worker may have tips for supporting the student and may be able to communicate with classroom teachers about the student.
- Trust that you are doing your best to support your child through this.
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.
Resources for Families
- Advocating for Your Child
- Accommodations & Education Rights
- Anxiety Management in the Classroom
- Behavior Management in School
- Bullying Prevention
- Children's Tool Kit
- Explaining a TS Diagnosis to a Child
- Family Tool Kit
- Federal Education Terminology
- Getting Help at School
- Handling Classroom Behaviors
- Identifying Common Red Flags
- Intro to Social Communication Disorder
- Managing Tics in the Classroom
- Prepare an IEP Binder
- Understanding Complex Behavior Issues
- Understanding Disinhibition
- What is Tourette Syndrome
- Young Adult Tool Kit
Resources for Educators
- 10 Things Teachers Can Do
- Anxiety Management in the Classroom
- Classroom Strategies & Techniques
- Developing Plans for Students with TS
- Disinhibition and Tourette
- Educator's Tool Kit
- Federal Education Terminology
- Handling Classroom Behaviors
- Identifying Common Red Flags
- Managing Tics in the Classroom
- Related Disorders Affecting Students
- Request a Presentation
- Symptoms occurring in classroom
- TAA Webinars
- Teacher to Teacher Advice (VIDEO)
- Tics in the Classroom
- Understanding a Child with TS
- Understanding Behavioral Symptoms in Tourette Syndrome
