Happy Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month! It is my favorite time of year, with exciting programs and awareness initiatives for all. What I love most is our community coming together in monumental ways to lift each other up through stories, togetherness, and local communities lit up Teal in the name of Tourette Awareness. We recently shared a powerful video that showcases the realities of the condition as well as the physical and psychological impact. In collaboration with AIST Onlus Associazione Italiana Sindrome di Tourette, we discussed the heightened need for awareness on a global scale and how kindness, compassion and knowledge can go great lengths.
We already know that challenges faced as a result of the condition can be crippling at times, but they can also serve as the catalyst that propels us to new heights. This is our time to let others understand that too. Join us as we aim to create a more universal understanding of the condition, as well as share successes to inspire our community and beyond. There are various ways you can get involved and make a lasting difference:
• Get Social: Download shareable assets, share your story, customize your profile picture, and take the pledge.
• Participate in a virtual event: Miles for Tourette, Teal Tuesdays, and free weekly webinars for all ages.
• Contact your Congressional Leader by sending an Awareness Month Action letter.
• Make a Gift: Donate, host a Facebook fundraiser and encourage others to do the same.
Last weekend, the TAA hosted its second annual Virtual Conference and it was a tremendous success. We welcomed over three thousand people from across the globe to discover new strategies, engage with likeminded people and delve deeper into Tourette Syndrome and its co-occurring conditions.
These mission moments fuel me – and remind me that the heartbeat of the TAA is each of you. Your willingness to educate others about the condition, your commitment to breaking down barriers and stigma, and your support of the Association is a true inspiration. Thank you for all that you do!
Gratefully,
Scouts Honor: A Gift that Keeps Giving
[Awareness]
TAA Youth Ambassador Giovanni Kubanick recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. For his service project, the Long Island teen worked with a videographer to produce a Public Service Announcement about Tourette Syndrome.
The goal of Giovanni’s video is to shed light on the fact that Tourette Syndrome can affect anyone, despite race, age, gender, or ethnicity, and that everyone’s experience with tics and co-occurring conditions are different.
Facts about Tourette Syndrome and Treatment Options
[Research]
“Tourette Syndrome can manifest with a combination of neurologic and psychiatric symptoms that have a complex interplay on the psychosocial functioning of individuals with this condition.” – Joohi Jimenez-Shahed, M.D., TAA Medical Advisory Board Member and Associate Professor of Neurology at Mount Sinai Hospital
Dr. Jimenez-Shahed goes into great detail about Tourette Syndrome, tics, and how effective treatment strategies, along with awareness and education, can help minimize disability and stigmatization.
The Gift I Got: The Jarvie Sisters
[Support]
“If you become a Tourette family, or any other disability, remember you are still a family. Traditions and togetherness are so important. TS is just one part of your family.” – Michelle Jarvie Eggart, Sr Lecturer in Engineering at MI Tech University
Michelle and her sister, Ellie, TAA Wisconsin Chapter Leader, chat with Wisconsibs: Sisters & Brothers of People with Disabilities about the importance of support from siblings and other family members.
Expanding Telehealth Coverage after the Pandemic
[Public Policy]
As part of Tourette Awareness Month, the TAA encourages you to take action by sending an Awareness Month Action letter to your Congressional Leaders.
Raising awareness about Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders will help increase their support for Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorder funding and research.
What's Happening
[News & Events]
- 5/26/21: Recognizing Re-Entry Anxiety in a Post-Pandemic World
- 6/10/21: Advances in the Treatment of Tics
- 6/10/21: Introduction to Organizational Skills Training for Students with Tourette’s Disorder and ADHD
- 6/16/21: Handwriting and TS: Common Issues that Impact Learning*
- 6/17/21: Homeschooling: A Flexible, Fluid, Child-Focused Education
- Click below to see all upcoming events
* In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and Tourette Association of America, Inc. (TOU). Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
