SOMERVILLE, NJ – The Tourette Syndrome Association of New Jersey (TSANJ) has announced the presentation of an Educators Inservice Program on “Understanding Tourette Syndrome (TS), Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD/ADHD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Other Associated Disorders.”
The program is scheduled for Wednesday, February 15, 2006 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Lacey Township High School, Haines Street, Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey. (For directions… www.lacey.k12.nj.us)
The workshop is designed to introduce educators to Tourette Syndrome and associated disorders with emphasis on school related issues. The criteria for diagnosis and clinical assessment will be explained to help teachers begin to understand the behavior of some children. The workshop will enable educators to recognize students’ difficulties and strengths. Potential interventions and behavior modifications will also be addressed. Peer education and classroom management issues, 504 planning, and IEP writing will be discussed. Certificates for three (3) professional development hours will be provided upon completion of the workshop. Light refreshments will be served.
Fee for the program is $15. Registration should be sent to Assistant Superintendent, Lacey Township School District, P.O. Box 216, Lanoka Harbor, NJ 08734.
For information, call Janine Howley at 609-242-2100, TSANJ at 908-575-7350 or visit the website at www.tsanj.org.
BACKGROUNDER:
Tourette Syndrome (TS) is an inherited neurological disorder that is manifested in involuntary physical and vocal tics. Symptoms generally appear before an individual is 18 years old. TS affects people of all ethnic groups with males affected 3 to 4 times more frequently than females. It is estimated that 200,000 Americans have full blown TS and that as many as 1 in 200 show a partial expression of the disorder. There is no cure for TS.
The mission of TSANJ is to support the needs of families with TS, to advocate for individuals with TS, and to educate the public and professionals about TS. TSANJ has a membership of 2,500 families and medical professionals. The organization relies completely on its membership, corporations, government, and foundations to fund its mission.
Currently TSANJ operates 9 support groups at regional medical centers across New Jersey; conducts awareness training for teachers, school nurses, students and community leaders; manages a TS help line for disseminating information about TS to parents, teachers, doctors, and others; and works with Rutgers University at the nation’s only student clinician TS clinic, developing support programs and treatments for families dealing with TS.
TSANJ is collaborating with UMDNJ Medical Schools and Rutgers University to create a New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders (NJCTS). The NJ Center will offer a much-needed diagnosis and treatment resource for the thousands of New Jersey families with TS. In addition to serving the medical and psychological needs of TS families, the Center will become a resource for TS patients and families willing to participate in controlled research studies into the causes and effective treatments of TS and associated disorders.