NJCTS Launches a Comic Book Series About a Superhero with Tourette Syndrome
There’s a new superhero entering the comic book world and she’s a teenage girl with Tourette Syndrome. Twitcha is the brainchild of Sarah Baldwin of Mantua, NJ who illustrated and wrote the book based on her own experiences with the neurological disorder. NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders (NJCTS) published the book in the spring of 2019.
During the Summer of 2017, Baldwin attended the NJCTS Tim Howard Leadership Academy at Rutgers University. The Academy is a four-day training for high school students that promotes self-advocacy, self-leadership, resilience and grit—all important skills to succeed while living with TS. As part of the Academy, each teen completes a group project. Baldwin was teamed up with Mary Gregorian of Smithtown, NY and Julie Nemerson of Northbrook, IL. Together the teens dreamed up a superhero that would be living with Tourette Syndrome and facing the same struggles that they were, both emotionally and physically.
“We wanted Twitcha to overcome but not conform for the sake of how everyone thinks she should act,” said Baldwin, who is currently a sophomore at Syracuse University. “She accepts her tics and her differences and decides to spread awareness to help others. Her story is not much different than mine, Mary’s or Julie’s.”
Twitcha’s tics are represented by the villain-turned-hero Misfire, who teams up with Dr. Sitstill to destroy anyone who wouldn’t conform to his idea of “normal.” But after their defeat, Misfire sees the error of her ways and teams up with Twitcha. The book is being used by NJCTS during Education Outreach presentations to elementary students and lesson plans have been created so teachers can add Twitcha to their curriculum.
A digital copy of Twitcha is available on Amazon and hard copies are available for classrooms and libraries free of charge. Contact NJCTS at info@njcts.org or 908-575-7350 to request copies.
LEARN ABOUT TWITCHA 2
Purchase Twitcha:
If you would like a copy of Twitcha or Twitcha 2 mailed to you, we are charging $3 to cover printing, shipping and handling.
Available on Amazon:
Elementary School Resources:
Download the Twitcha Coloring Sheet
What’s Your Superpower activity sheet
Download a flyer to share with your teacher
Reviews:
“Congratulations on Twitcha! I’m so excited that something like this is available! Good job and great thinking!!”
“A MUST have for teachers and parents!!!I read it to my class and they absolutely loved it. They fell in love with the superhero Twitcha and learned all about love and acceptance through this comic! “
“I really loved this story! I think it will be very helpful to explain how to deal with TS. TS can really be a superpower!’
Please leave a review on Amazon or at GoodReads.
Buy a Twitcha tshirt or hoodie:
>>Visit the Twitcha Store!<<
In the News
- South Jersey teen shares how Tourette Syndrome gave her self-advocacy ‘superpower’ – Courier-Post
- This teen created a superhero with Tourette syndrome named Twitcha to help young people embrace their differences – Philadelphia Inquirer
- NJ student’s comic book turns Tourette Syndrome into a Superpower – NJ 101.5
- Woman inspires kids with TS by creating a superhero – News12-NJ
- New comic book series highlights superhero with Tourette syndrome – The Times of Smithtown
- New Jersey Teen Girl with Tourette Syndrome is a Comic Book SuperHero – TAPinto.net
- Resident publishes comic book about Tourette Syndrome – The Mantua Sun
Press Inquiries:
Doreen Pustizzi, dpustizzi@njcts.org, 908-575-7350