Learning more about Tourette Syndrome decreases ignorance

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Jacquelynn

I’m almost 16 years old, and when I was in third grade, I was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. Luckily, it’s a bit more minor than others. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less important. I want to learn more about TS, in hopes that one day I can become a National Tourette Syndrome Association Youth Ambassador.

I just really want to talk to other people who experience the same tics as I do and try to help those people deal with it. After having to deal with it for so many years, I know how tough it can be. People are very ignorant when it comes to Tourette, and I guess I’m just looking forward to being able to communicate with other people like me.

I was introduced to this blog on Facebook, and my mother believes blogging could help me get out some of my emotions toward TS.

Dealing with change can be very hard

Posted on April 19, 2012 by RowenaM

Change does not change tradition. It strengthens it. Change is a challenge and an opportunity — not a threat.
~ Prince Phillip of England

Hi everyone. It is a partly cloudy day here where I live. So, everything has been OK so far the past week and a half. As you all know, there is a new admin on my page, Twitch and Jerk. I must be honest — it has been a bit hard for me. TaJ is my baby. It has been mine so long, and Shawnna has done a great job.

She has started conversation with so many of the fans. They all really seem to like her. But I am stupidly jealous of her. I like her a lot, but I’m just afraid that you all will like her more than me. She seems to be doing a better job than I am. I haven’t posted for the past week so she could get used to being an admin.

I also just felt like I couldn’t say anything because it wouldn’t be as good. I couldn’t say no to her when she asked to be an admin. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, and I actually thought it would be cool for her to be an admin. I guess I just have to get used to change. I’m not a change person. It’s hard for me to deal with. Shawnna is doing a great job. I hope she keeps it up! I mean it. Continue reading →

Pediatric residents learn more about Tourette Syndrome from teens

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Teens4TS

Drew Friedrich and Sarah Ethridge had a lot to say at the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome’s patient-centered training April 9 at Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, N.J. And the pediatric residents to whom they spoke absorbed every word they spoke.

The packed room of pediatric residents learned more about Tourette Syndrome in 1 hour than they did during their entire time in medical school or during on-the-job experience. NJCTS’ patient-centered trainings are, simply put, THAT effective. But don’t take our word for it. Listen to what the chief pediatric resident had to say:

“I didn’t realize that you could actually suppress the impulses of the tics. That was interesting information for me,” said Angela Mukherjee, the chief pediatric resident at Goryeb. “I think we got a really good insight into how Tourette affects children on a daily basis and the struggles that they encounter. In the textbook, we learned what Tourette is and how to treat it, but it’s different in person. It was great. It was really educational.”

NJCTS’ story about the training can be read by clicking here, but we at Teens4TS would like to provide you with some exclusive behind-the-scenes quotes and information! Continue reading →

Chatham teen named a 2012 TSA Youth Ambassador

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Teens4TS

Each year, the Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) selects about 125 teenagers from around the country – both with and without TS – to become youth ambassadors for the disease. This year, one of New Jersey’s representatives is from Chatham.

Sarah Ethridge, 14, will travel to Washington, D.C. on April 18 and 19 to go through TSA’s Youth Ambassador Training Program. The Chatham High School student submitted an application and essay about her motivation, and is very excited to be a part of the program that produced one of this blog’s regular contributors, Emily Fleischman, in 2010.

Once she completes her training, Ethridge will return to New Jersey and visit classes, schools and clubs to teach other local children about TS and encourage tolerance and sensitivity to the syndrome. Continue reading →

The ins and outs to giving peer presentations on Tourette’s

Posted on January 13, 2012 by EmilyF

Hi, my name is Emily, I am 16 years old and I go to schools to speak about Tourette Syndrome. What I do is called a peer in-service presentation, and I discuss why you should not bully people for their differences.

I understand that some of you are interested in doing a peer in-service presentation at your local elementary school. Well, that is fabulous! More people need to be educated about Tourette Syndrome.

I went to Washington, D.C., in 2010 for the National Tourette Syndrome Association Youth Ambassadors Conference and learned Jenn Zwilling’s Tourette Syndrome presentation, which can be viewed here.

My presentation is similar. I discuss the same topics, but speak about them a little differently. Also, when I am with a larger audience, I use a power-point, which I blogged about in an earlier Teens4TS entry.

Before I get into the ins and outs of doing a peer in-service presentation, I should note that if you are from New Jersey and are interested in doing one, you should contact the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome (NJCTS) at 908-575-7350 or info@njcts.org.

Anyway, the steps to doing this are simple: Continue reading →