Youth Programs
We’re committed to providing mentorship, support, leadership, networking, and social skill development opportunities for kids and teens.
Youth Advocates
Our youth advocate presentations reach thousands of students in schools and community organizations throughout New Jersey. We review the implications of a TS diagnosis and provides strategies for interacting positively with someone who has Tourette Syndrome. These sessions, approximately 40 minutes, help build empathy among classmates, promoting acceptance, tolerance, and self-advocacy.
The presentation can be provided on behalf of students in your school living with Tourette Syndrome or as part of a more general anti-bullying effort. Students gain an in-depth understanding of TS and associated disorders, have the opportunity to ask questions, and have misconceptions corrected.
4,400
Elementary and middle school students were reached by a Youth Advocate in 2025.
Youth Council
The purpose of the NJCTS Youth Council is to empower youth (ages 13-18) living with TS, tic disorders and the associated conditions, or some form of lived experience with TS, to educate, advocate and increase awareness of Tourette Syndrome and tic disorders. The Youth Council will provide an open forum for communications where youth can share information and ideas and discuss relevant topics inherent to the TS and tic disorder community. Through these conversations, making connections and participating in activities teens will create and develop ways for increasing awareness and furthering the mission of NJCTS.
Youth Council Members
- Meet monthly to discuss advocacy activities
- Help plan our annual Family Summit
- Participate in our annual NJ Walks for TS fundraiser
- Contribute to our blog to share their perspective and ideas with other teens
- Request Proclamations from town council to declare June 4th “TS Day”
Developing Future Leaders
Tim Howard Leadership Academy
The Tim Howard Leadership Academy is a transformative program designed to cultivate leadership skills in youth with Tourette Syndrome. Named after the renowned soccer player and advocate, this academy focuses on empowering participants through workshops, team-building activities, and mentorship. Youth in the Academy engage in interactive sessions that encourage self-discovery and peer support, creating a community of young leaders ready to make a difference.
HELPING STUDENTS ACHIEVE MORE
Scholarship Program
Investing in the future of college-or-trade-school-bound high school seniors with Tourette Syndrome has been an important function of NJCTS since 2001. NJCTS has awarded approximately 370 scholarships to New Jersey graduating high school seniors who have excelled in their schools and communities in the face of living with Tourette Syndrome.
- Scholarship awards range from $100 to $1,500.
- NJCTS congratulates each winner with a press release distributed to their local print and online publications (provided we have permission from the candidate).
- Top winners are invited to a special awareness event in June.
$10,000
Awarded in scholarships to students in 2025.
Eligible Applicants Must Be:
- Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome or other tic disorder from a qualified medical practitioner.
- A resident of the State of New Jersey.
- A high school senior in a public, private, or home school.
- Planning to attend a college or trade school on a part-time or full-time basis in Fall 2026.
Thank you to all of our students who have applied! The deadline to apply has passed the winners will be announced May 1, 2026.
Tic Talk Blog
Running Towards Relief of Tics
I have been living with a tic disorder for over 10 years now. I have had to cope with eye blinking, nose scrunching, and neck jerking movements over the years. When I was little, I would have weeks experiencing these symptoms followed by months free of tics. I would...
Elevator Pitches
An activity we do every year at the Tim Howard Leadership Academy is elevator pitches. An elevator pitch is a short, concise explanation meant to quickly explain something important. In this case, the pitch is about Tourette’s Syndrome. Learning how to give an...
My Best Friend, Tourette’s Syndrome
In my eyes, Tourette’s syndrome isn’t just a disorder, and it isn’t torture, even though some days it truly feels like it tries to tear me apart. To me, Tourette’s is like a strange, unpredictable friend who never leaves my side. It’s there through every high and...