Audience: Elementary-Aged Children
Description: Join us for a fun, uplifting virtual get together! During this interactive session, participants will enjoy Valentine-inspired games, activities, and creative opportunities designed to spark joy and create connections with others.
Betsy Newlon
Director of Program Operations, TAA
Betsy Newlon enthusiastically joins the Tourette Association of America (TAA) as Director, Program Operations. Betsy brings over a decade of experience supporting children and families through her work in early childhood education and pediatric hospital settings.
Prior to joining the TAA Betsy served as Operations Supervisor in Neurobehavioral Health at Akron Children’s Hospital, where she worked closely with the Tic and Tourette Service—an experience that sparked a personal connection to the Tourette community. During her time at Akron Children’s, she also served as the coordinator for the TAA Center of Excellence and co-led the planning and execution of T.I.C. Night Out, one of the largest events in the country for children and families impacted by Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders.
Betsy has a strong background in operational leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic program coordination. She has led complex initiatives that require both high-level planning with hands-on execution, and she brings experience in managing large-scale events and programs. Additionally, she has developed training programs, integrated new technology into assessment services to enhance efficiency and accuracy, and supervised a team of psychometrists. Betsy has extensive experience in the cognitive, developmental and psychoeducational assessment of children, adolescents and young adults.
In her free time, Betsy enjoys spending time with her family, working on puzzles, and hiking.
Olivia Woodrich
Policy Coordinator, TAA
Olivia Woodrich is an award-winning social activist and founder of a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering children with disabilities by teaching them how to advocate for themselves in the classroom. Olivia has provided advocacy training to nearly 2,000 students and parents nationwide through her training with the Tourette Association of America as both a Youth Ambassador and a Rising Leader. She has also presented anti-bullying and inclusion programs about Tourette Syndrome to over 15,000 students nationwide. Olivia has received numerous accolades for her advocacy, including the prestigious Diana Award from the Prince of Wales, and the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama. With a Political Science and Pre-Law degree focusing on Disability Rights Law, Olivia currently serves as a Policy Coordinator for the TAA. She has actively lobbied on Capitol Hill multiple times, securing millions of dollars in funding for TS research and delivering presentations about TS to government organizations like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of the Interior.
