About the Nonprofit
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The Tourette Association of America – Texas Chapter has supported Texan’s medical, educational and social needs through vital and unduplicated programs and services. All programs and services are free to our children and families, nor do we charge dues.
Tourette Texas’s vital and unduplicated work includes:
Advocacy and Consulting: Providing no-cost professional consulting, Tourette Texas evaluates the “whole” child or adult to recommend and to assist in implementing appropriate medical diagnosis and management, educational needs and accommodations, social skills, career goals, and/or family interactions. Additionally, we advocate with families, physicians, schools and legal entities to ensure the best interests of our clients are always served.
Education and In-Service: Accurate information about Tourette’s syndrome is disseminated to physicians, educators, parents and families and at events throughout the state, such as Health Fairs. In-Service presentations are made to school districts and annual educational presentations are scheduled across the state at the start of school for college students, parents and young adults.
Medical Assistance Program: Financially strapped, under-insured and non-insured individuals are funded for visits to experienced physicians for diagnosis and management of their TS symptoms through the Andrei Jackson Memorial Medical Scholarship Fund.
Scholarships and Direct Client Services: Deserving and needy families are provided with scholarships for educational assistance and for other necessities.
Support Groups: Regular meetings at our many Support Groups around the state provide speakers, support, materials and social interaction for families, children and adults dealing with Tourette’s syndrome. Currently, TS Support Groups are hosted in Austin, Bryan/College Station, Dallas, Golden Triangle, Fort Worth, Houston, Katy, San Antonio, Sugar Land, Victoria/Corpus Christi, and The Woodlands.
Camp du Ballon Rouge: Camp dBR hosts children and teens with Tourette’s syndrome to a tuition-free (the only tuition-free TS camp in the nation) four day camping weekend. For most, this camp is the only time they feel free of prejudice or embarrassment about their symptoms.
Family Events and Activities: Tourette Texas hosts across-the-state holiday parties, Summer/Back to School parties, pizza parties at support group meetings, and other sports and cultural outings, all free of charge to our very often over-whelmed and under-funded families.
Youth Ambassador Program: In partnership with the National Tourette Association of America, Tourette Texas helps sponsor and train children and teens to talk about TS. These young people (ages 13-18) speak about TS before their peers at school, sports leagues, scout troops, camps and after school programs, helping to demystify TS and spread awareness.
Tourette Texas works to save the lives of those with TS and their families. Until a cure for Tourette’s syndrome is found, Tourette Texas will work diligently to provide medical assistance and scholarships; offer social activities and events for children, adults and siblings; educate the public and professionals for heightened awareness, sensitivity, and understanding of the disorder; provide professional “whole person” consulting; and advocate for an improved quality of life for its clients. We receive no Federal or State assistance, raising funds through donations, events and select private grant opportunities.
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*Tourette’s syndrome (TS) is a neurological movement disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics. Beginning in childhood, it causes those affected to make movements and noises they cannot control. Many with TS additionally have associated obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and learning differences. Just as importantly, many experience serious self-esteem and social issues due to their often puzzling, misunderstood or disruptive symptoms. Studies indicate 2-3% of the population, including approximately 1 in every 100 school age child, may have Tourette’s.. Although symptoms usually diminish in adulthood, TS is considered a lifelong disorder.
