Tag Archives: Links

The week after

Posted on by
Reply

CoryParty4What a week it has been since my episode aired on Bravo TV. So much has happened, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

I think what I want to share most of all with all of you is how my song and my openness about my disabilities has impacted so many people in a good way. I have been getting so many e-mails, messages from new fans and friends telling me how much they connected with my song and what it means to them.

CoryParty1More than anything, I love to sing but to be able to help other people realize their dreams can be a reality is the BEST feeling in the world.

I’m sharing this with you because I am one voice. Together, we have a bigger voice, and if we all start speaking up and being more vocal about our disabilities and how we overcome them, not only can we help other people, but we can change lives. Continue reading →

A helpful list of Tourette Syndrome books, videos and links

Posted on by
Reply
Here are a list of book titles and websites/films about Tourette Syndrome that I thought you all might find useful! :)

Books

  • “I Can’t Stop” — Holly Niner A Story about TS (kids book)
  • “Adam and the Magic Marble” — Adam Buehrens
  • “Hi, I’m Adam: A Child’s story of Tourette Syndrome” — Adam Buehrens (kids)
  • “Tic Talk: Living with Tourette Syndrome, A 9-year-old boy’s story in his own words” — Dylan Peters (kids)
  • “Teaching the Tiger A Handbook for Individuals Involved in the Education of Students with Attention Deficit Disorders, Tourette Syndrome or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder [Plastic Comb]” — Marilyn P., Ph.D. Dornbush (Author), Sheryl K. Pruitt (Author)
  • “Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I never Had” — Brad Cohen with Lisa Wysocky
  • “Twitch and Shout: A Touretter’s Tale” — Lowell Handler
  • “Against Medical Advice” — James Patterson and Hal Friedman
  • “Children with Tourette Syndrome” — a parent’s guide, edited by Tracy Lynne Marsh. 2nd edition or newer
  • “Challenging Kids, Challenged Teachers” — Leslie E. Packer, Ph.D. & Sheryl Pruitt, M.Ed., ET/P for TS Plus
  • “The Explosive Child” — Ross W. Greene, Ph.D.
  • “Don’t Think About Monkeys” — edited by Adam Ward Seligman & John S. Hilkevich
  • “What to do when your temper flares” — a workbook by Dawn Huebner, Ph.D.
  • “What to do when your brain gets stuck” — a workbook by Dawn Huebner, Ph. D.
  • “Coping with Tourette Syndrome” — a workbook by Sandra Buffolano, MA
  • “House Rules” — Jodi Picoult (Asperger’s)
  • “Healing the New Childhood Epedemics” — Kenneth Bock and Cameron Stauth Continue reading →

Getting involved will change your life

Posted on by
Reply

I was recently asked to talk about a person who I admire who has Tourette Syndrome. What better way to answer this question than with a blog post. So, who do I admire? Jennifer Zwilling — the creator of the National Youth Ambassador program.

From the time I was diagnosed with TS at age 6 until my freshman year in high school, I devoted all my energy to hiding my tics when I was in school. I had seen my first-grade class relentlessly tease Eric, a boy who had uncontrollable outbursts, and I was definately not going to be a victim like him.

I was even afraid and embarrassed to tell my friends about my disorder. I was always exhausted from working so hard to hide who I really was.  Many years of cognitive therapy and medications allowed me to have some control over my tics, but it was not easy.

The big change came in high school, when as a freshman I came clean. I realized that if I wanted to focus on academics, I would have to stop devoting so much energy to hiding my tics.

During a discussion with my doctor about my ticks, she compared TS with diabetes and peanut allergies. She stated that people with diabetes don’t hide that they get insulin shots and students with peanut allergies don’t hide that they sit at a peanut-free table at lunch.

Similarly, I should not hide who I am simply because I have TS and tic. I started to realize that my disorder was not something that made me “bad” and it was not my fault that I suffered from TS. My doctor suggested that I look at some TS websites for more information. Continue reading →

Tourette Syndrome movies

Posted on by
Reply

I posted this on my A Little Bit Different: Tourette Syndrome page on Facebook, and I’d like to share it here, too. Here are some TS movie suggestions for kids to watch with their parents:

More TS/OCD movie suggestions to come! Feel free to add any suggestions that we forgot!

I am proud to be a youth advocate for Tourette Syndrome!

Posted on by
9

Because of all of your efforts supporting Tourette Syndrome, the Collaborative Academic Research Efforts (CARE) for Tourette Syndrome Act of 2013 has been reintroduced in the House of Representatives!

What does this mean? If passed, there will be a bill that will help all of us with TS. The primary purpose of the bill is to establish regional centers of excellence nationwide that will conduct research, diagnose, prevent, control, and treat TS and associated disorders such as OCD, ADHD and anxiety.

I was diagnosed with TS at the age of 6, and it has really influenced my life. The bullying factor of this misunderstood neurological disorder really affected my friendships throughout elementary school and middle school.

Legislation must be passed to help and protect the children and adults affected by this disorder. I agree with Congressman Sires, “Through this legislation, we can grasp a better understanding of Tourette Syndrome and, in turn, enhance the lives of many people.”

I hope that the bill goes through. The idea to have nationwide regional centers is superb. I am proud to be a part of the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome (NJCTS), the nation’s first center of excellence for TS. This year I was named Youth Advocate of the Year for NJCTS. I am thrilled to have this honor am grateful to be part of the NJCTS family.

Oh, and come meet me on April 14 when NJCTS hosts its first NJ Walks For TS at Ramapo College!