The Soccer Hall of Famer made an appearance all the way from France.
High school students representing seven states learned about advocacy, self-leadership, and resilience from professionals and mentors as NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders (NJCTS) conducted their 11th Tim Howard Leadership Academy on the Busch Campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ, August 1 to 4.
Created in 2014 in partnership with former professional soccer player, current broadcaster, and Tourette Syndrome (TS) advocate, Tim Howard, the Academy is the only leadership program for teens diagnosed with TS in the nation. The 19 teens, ages 15 to 18, travelled from across the country, including as far as Colorado and Texas.
Over the course of their four days on campus, when the participants were not interacting with doctors, psychologists, and other experts in the field to learn more about their TS, they had the opportunity to form connections with new friends through small group activities like scavenger hunts, vision board creation, and friendly games of four-square in the quad. They were led and mentored throughout the weekend by a group of 20-something coaches, many of whom were once participants.
On Friday, Sampled Labs provided a tour of the home of the NJCTS Cell and DNA Repository and the group learned about the latest advances in TS research from Dr. Jay Tischfield of Rutgers and the TIC Genetics Research project. On Saturday morning, Tim Howard participated in a Zoom Q&A with the teens from Paris where he was covering mens soccer at the 2024 Olympic Games. Howard talked about growing up with TS and how he handles his tics as a professional broadcaster.
“There is power in who we are,” said the former US Men’s National Soccer Team goalie. “When you have the strength to advocate for yourself, that’s awesome. When you have the strength to advocate for others, that’s the most powerful thing in the world.”
TS is a neurobiological disorder characterized by uncontrollable movements and sounds known as tics. As many as 1 in 50 school-aged children show signs of TS or other tic disorders, which are frequently accompanied by other mental health disorders including ADHD, OCD, and anxiety.
According to a survey conducted by the Tourette Association of America in 2022, 80% of students with TS felt that their tics negatively affected their school experience, 70% had experienced bullying due to their disorder, and 38% worry about being socially isolated.
“The goal of the Academy is to have the teens leave with the ability to advocate for themselves and be ready to face an often misinformed public,” explained Academy Director Melissa Fowler. “With the lessons and skills they gain, and the goals they set for themselves, they’re on their way to be the voice of awareness in their own communities.”
An application for the 2025 Tim Howard Leadership Academy will be available later this Fall. High School students (or international equivalent) who have completed at least their Freshman year by June 2025 are eligible. Visit www.njcts.org/academy to learn more.