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Spring 2008
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Vol 2, Issue
1
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Bonne Nouvelle
Your "Good
News" from TSA of Texas
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TSA of TX:
Helping Children and Changing Lives
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Tourette Syndrome is a neurobehavioral (brain-based)
movement disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics. Beginning
in childhood, it causes those affected to make movements and noises they
cannot control. Additionally, many are plagued by OCD, ADHD, oppositional
behavior and other disorders. Although medication may help control
the symptoms, as of yet there is no cure. TSA of Texas, one of the
largest chapters in the country, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization. We directly assist Texas area families and
children in crisis, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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du Ballon Rouge Is Here
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 This Friday, eighty-four happy children will
be headed to TSA of Texas' annual children's weekend, du Ballon
Rouge! dBR is a unique time and place for children diagnosed
with TS. Held each year in the hill country of Texas, dBR
provides attendees with opportunities for fishing, horseback riding,
canoeing, arts and crafts, a ropes challenge course, swimming and team
sports. More importantly, it provides children an opportunity
to spend time with others with TS and to not worry about exhibiting their
sympthoms. The weekend experience has an
extemely positive impact on each child and can directly improve
their quality of life. Be sure to look for our report on all the
fun in the summer issue of Bonne
Nouvelle. You will
also be treated to a story about a special young man, Harry Patterson,
who raised money to sponsor seven children at dBR.
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TSA Conference Approaching Quickly
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The biennial National TSA Conference will be held April
4th -6th in Alexandria, VA. The
conference offers training, networking, inspiration and fun for
people with TS and their families.
Additionally, Trip to the Hill appointments are scheduled for
Thursday, April 3rd. Chapter representatives will visit with
Congressional representatives to discuss important TS issues. Watch for our report in the next
issue of Bonne Nouvelle. Learn More>>
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Texas Hotlines
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Houston:
281-238-8096
Emergency
Pager: 800-209-0796
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Save These Dates!
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- March
28-30, 2008 - 6th Annual du Ballon Rouge Children's
Weekend Learn More>>
- April
4-6, 2008 - National
TSA Conference in Alexandria, VA Learn More>>
- May
15 - June 15, 2008 - National TSA
Awareness Month
- August
2008 - Summer Swim Parties
throughout Texas
- September
2008 - Baseball Outings
throughout Texas
- October
6, 2008 - Tee Off for Tourette:
The 14th Annual Golf Fundraiser will include door prizes,
contests and a silent auction.
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Occupational Therapy Strategies
for TS
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Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps
individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives.
Occupational therapy assists people in developing the
skills necessary for "the job of living" independent and
satisfying lives. Occupational therapists look at how a person
occupies his time to determine what is keeping an individual from
participating as fully as possible in all areas of life. There
are many ways individuals with Tourette Syndrome can benefit from
occupational therapy. Click here to check
out the new webstream and slide show by Marge Henning, COTA on the
national TSA website.
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National Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month
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In 2004, Congress introduced a concurrent resolution (H.
Con. Res. 430 and S. Con. Res 113), which recognizes the importance of
early diagnosis, proper treatment and enhanced public awareness of TS and
supporting the goals and ideals of a National Tourette Syndrome Awareness
Month. Since then, national TSA and the TSA chapters and
support groups join together each year for an Awareness Campaign from May
15 to June 15. The Awareness Campaign serves to educate the general
public about TS at both the grassroots level and the national level
through various activities. Special events, media campaigns, grass root
fundraisers and information booths are all part of the campaign.
There are many ways you can participate in increasing awareness in your
area during this month. Here are just a few ideas:
- Talk to your friends and family
about TS.
- Speak about TS at a local school,
PTA meeting, police or fire department, Chamber of Commerce, a
service organization or a religious organization.
- Meet with your local government
officials to explain TS and why it is important they support
important legislative positions. Learn More>>
- Contact a
local newspaper to see if they will run an article or public service
announcement about TS. Learn More>>
- Organize a
local fundraiser such as a garage sale, car wash, Mother's Day or
Father's Day gift wrapping at the
local mall, or a restaurant event.
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In Need of a Match Maker???? Call Me!
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by
Daryl Brister
When I think of a "Match Maker", I think of
someone who has the ability and skill to understand a person's
personality, desires, likes, etc. and would then in turn be able to find
that person the "perfect" match that would complement them.
Well - in case you thought I was
referring to that kind of Match Maker, I have to inform you that I wasn't
(but in case you are looking for that perfect match, call me - I've
always wanted to try out my match making skills - no guarantees).
Instead, I'm referring to what most companies today are making
available to their employees by way of Matching Community Donations.
Let me explain: I work for BP, which is one of the
large oil and gas companies. BP has several community donation
plans that I, as an employee, can use to have them donate to the
charity of my choice. (Hmmm, let me see who I want to donate to
today??? TSA of Texas maybe - you bet!) I actually have several
options available to me at BP to match my donation in a
dollar value:
- I
can donate a specific amount to money to TSA of Texas and BP will
match it -- up to a certain amount. For example, I give $100 to TSA
of Texas and BP will cut a check for $100 so that a total of $200
goes to TSA of Texas.
- I
can volunteer my time in service to TSA of Texas and BP will put a
dollar value per hour of my time up to a certain amount and cut a
check for TSA of Texas.
- Our
most recent Community Donation Program, called Fabric of America,
was set up so that any employee could just ask BP, without any
commitment on the employee's part, to donate up to $500 to the
charity of choice on the employee's behalf. Thus, BP simply
writes the charity a check.
- As a side note to this last bullet, I took advantage
of this Fabric of America program and sent out an email to over 100
of my fellow BP employees asking them, if they didn't have a
favorite charity they wanted BP to donate to, would they consider
TSA of Texas. To date I believe TSA of Texas has received over
$7,000 from BP! And all I did was ask some friends at work to help
us out. That simple!
So, what about your company?
Do they have similar programs? Most companies do have community
programs like this that you can tap into as an employee. Check
with your HR group or if you have a Government or Public Affairs team at
your company, check with them to see what is likely in place. Some
companies look to sponsor charities in a big way, so take the time to
find out who you can speak with at your company and educate them about TS
and the need we have to spread the word in our communities. All it takes
is a small amount of your time and a short conversation.
What's the worst that can happen? "I'm sorry we don't have anything
available at this time." (That means to check back later.)
Or the best that could happen is that your company donates $$$'s
to TSA of Texas. So between my company and all your companies out there,
we could really make a difference in the lives of kids & families
struggling with TS.
Remember out motto: Helping Children and Changing
Lives. You and I are doing this every day. Let's educate others
and encourage them to join us in our efforts to really make a
difference in our TSA of Texas community!
Now, if anyone out there is really
interested in giving me the opportunity to try out my match making
skills, you can reach me at my new website - www.bubbasmatchingservices.com - we find South Louisiana's best - straight from the
bayou to you!
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Success of Gala
Means Benefits Continue to Texas Families Dealing with
TS!
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 Paris: Cite des
Lumieres, a Frankly French Evening, TSA of Texas' major
fundraising event, was held on Thursday, January 31. Attendees enjoyed cocktails and wine,
entertainment by The Gypsies
and a fabulous French multi-course dinner, all set in the sparkling, festive
atmosphere of one of Houston's premiere country clubs. Silent and
Live auctions added to the fun and excitement.
Chaired by Linda Davis Blumenfeld
along with Honorary Chair Vera Brown, this year's gala honored Marcie
Kirkpatrick Lipsitz, TSA National board member and civic leader; June
Bowen, a long-time Houston community leader; and Cathy Jankovic, media
producer/editor for the Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders
Clinic. Our corporate honoree was
the Methodist Hospital, a generous sponsor of TSA of Texas over the past
21 years.
Although great fun, the evening
also holds a higher purpose as it provides
the largest portion of funds used to benefit the many thousands of
children and families throughout Texas who are dealing with TS. Plans are already underway for the
2009 Gala. While once again
hosting a dinner evening at the Houston Country Club in January, TSA of
Texas also plans capital campaigns in other Texas cities, thus tapping
"deep into the hearts" and generosity of donors throughout the
state and ensuring the expansion of services for ALL Texans with TS.
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Runners Support TSA at Chevron Marathon in Houston
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On Sunday, January 13, 2008, over 18,000 registered
runners and walkers participated in the Chevron Houston Marathon, the
Aramco Half Marathon and the EP5K Walk, challenging themselves while
raising money and awareness for their favorite charities. This
year, through the National TEAM TSA program, three TS families ran and
walked for TSA. TSA of Texas will
receive 30% of the funds they raised (after expenses). Our deepest thanks go out to these
families for their incredible efforts!
Here are their stories:
Meredith
Morgan of Spring
Speaking on behalf of my
son Tyler and myself, we had a
great experience participating in the marathon for TSA because it was for
such a good cause. I could see the look in Tyler's eyes as we headed for
the finish line of how much he wanted to finish and how proud of himself
he was. The people cheering us on gave us great encouragement and after we
crossed the finish line, people were hi-fiving Tyler and he was
grinning ear to ear, just so proud of himself. This marathon was for such
a good cause and was something wonderful he and I could do together. For
a little boy who has never had much of a self esteem, he sure
had an unforgettable one yesterday. He was so proud of his medal, he wore
it until bed time.
Stephanie Mitzner of Seabrook
This was my first marathon. I began training for the
marathon 26 weeks before the event. Running for a reason made the
hardest and coldest days of training easier. I would often think of
my son Michael and all our
family and friends that were supporting our cause (TS) when I needed
motivation to keep going. The experience was rewarding. I
hope to do it again. So many people were excited to support me
in this community event. They were excited to be connected to
it. Many of them told me they watched the marathon on the TV.
They had told other family and friends that they had sponsored one
of the runners who was raising money for TSA. Who knows how
many more people were made more aware. My women's club proudly
published a write up about it in our Texas monthly bulletin that was read
by hundreds. The outreach just mushrooms. It is exciting.
I hope all the people who were undecided to support me this year
will be eager to be a part of it in 2009. I encourage anyone who
wants to do a run to join a running club and just start. Short runs
can be the most fun. See you at the finish line!
Loli Gonzalez-Hill of Manor
We left my folk's house at 5:30 a.m. so we could get a
parking spot. We had a great time.
There were runners of all ages, sizes, from different backgrounds and on
wheelchairs. Many were running for different causes. I was running for
TSA and my hero, my son Kyle. Kyle
was in awe by all the runners. He was wondering why all the runners were
throwing clothes around. We explained that they get hot with too much
clothing on while they run. But the cool thing is that all the clothes
are collected and given to the homeless shelter. Kyle walked quite a bit
and was a real trooper despite being cold. He hopes to start training so
he can run some of the 5K races as well. There is no reason why kids with
TS can't run races. As I came to the finish line, I could hear my
loud sister screaming my name and Kyle cheering me on. That was a lot of
fun. I hope that people noticed us and the TSA shirts we were wearing. I
do know some people were reading my shirt as I was running by them. We
hope to run the race again next year and maybe even run the
half-marathon.
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Katy Youth Helps Others Understand TS
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Brenton Brister, age 21, of
Katy, Texas, has come a long way. In high school, he was
unable to walk down a hallway without banging his knee into the wall
repeatedly because it didn't feel "just right." Brenton
is now standing tall in front of groups of people and
giving talks about what it was like to be a child growing up
with TS and about living with TS now as a young adult. In the spring of
2007, Brenton and his mother, Barbara Brister, led a breakout session on
"The Clock is Tic-cing - Time to Learn About TS" at the Fourth
Annual Sam Houston Council for Exceptional Children "Meeting the
Needs of All Learners" Special Education Conference held in
Huntsville, Texas. This was the first time that the conference included
information about TS and the feedback was very
positive. Many who attended the session were greatly
touched by Brenton's talk and his willingness to share
his personal struggles. As a result, Brenton was invited to
participate again at the Fifth Annual Conference held in February
2008. Brenton and his parents guided the group
through "Understanding Tourette Syndrome" and
Brenton led a Q&A session.
Brenton is currently completing his core classes at Cy
Fair College and is planning to transfer in the fall.
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Support Group Spotlight:
Katy
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by
Barbara and Daryl Brister, Katy Support Group Leaders
Since 2003, the Katy TS Support
Group has been consistently meeting on the second Wednesday of each month
from 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM at Christus St. Catherine Hospital. The adults
and kids each have their own meeting in areas close in proximity. On
occasion, the two groups are combined when a particular activity, dinner,
or party is planned.
Each
year, we try to provide a wide variety of speakers on many topics related
to TS. Our own executive director, Sheryl Kadmon, joins us each fall for
our "Back to School" talk which is always heartily received by
our parents who learn more about advocating for their child. During the
group meetings or by way of email, new information is also passed along
by viewing videos, hearing reports from various conferences, and the
latest information from the National TSA. The importance of getting the
right information into the hands of our support group families who can
then pass it along to teachers, family members, and friends is
imperative. We try to vary the
group with open discussion which is always great to be able to have the
chance to share ideas or gain insight in dealing with the many different
issues which might be helpful in each other's life. For newly diagnosed
families, this is so beneficial as they get to hear stories of how other
families may be coping with some of the same problems that they may be
facing.
Information,
alone, is not our only reason for meeting once a month together. We also
love a reason to have a party! We combine both adult and kids' groups for
pizza nights with board games or video games. Our annual Valentine,
School's Out, and December Holiday parties are filled with good food and
crafts for the kids.
During the kids' group
meeting, they enjoy making various crafts, playing games, eating snacks,
and just being together. A volunteer parent or college student along with
a professional helps to monitor the youth activities. Knowing that their
children are safe, busy, and happy allows the parents to focus on their
time during the adult meeting and just having a short break for even an
hour is important for our parents to be able to have a time where they
can share their thoughts and feelings.
Both email and phone
support is on-going. Many times, emails are received stating how even
though someone may not be able to attend our group in person, they are
appreciative of keeping up with the news from the support group and what
a great help that has been.
Looking
back over the years, one of the greatest outcomes of the group's meetings
is the relationships that are formed. Friendships have blossomed, among
many of our kids as well as the adults, which have allowed for other
get-togethers with each other. For our youth from early elementary age
through college, the support group offers the opportunity to come to a
safe and fun place where they are accepted for who they are.
The
Katy Support Group meets the second Wednesday of each month. For more information, contact Barbara
or Daryl at 281-395-5392 or darbar4@comcast.net.
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My First TEA Conference
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by
Emily Stark, North Texas Support Group Leader
This article is based upon information gathered by Ms. Stark at the
Parents Organization Academy Conference on November 15-16, 2007. The conference was sponsored by the
Parent Coordination Network, Region 9 ESC, and the Texas Education
Agency. If you have specific
questions regarding yuor child or school, please contact Sheryl Kadmon,
TSA of Texas Executive Directors, at 281-238-8096. Part ONE of TWO appeared in the Bonne Nouvelle Winter issue.
The Transition/Graduation
portion of the conference was very informative. A website www.transitionintexas.org is currently still under construction, however it has
some great information already available to help students transition from
high school and into the workplace and/or college. One thing the speakers stressed was
this: when preparing your child for life after high school, document all
of his/her accomplishments during high school and middle school -- for
example, community service, volunteer work, public speaking, office
skills, etc. When the time comes
to help your student make decisions about their future, this information
will be handy in not only providing services your child may still need,
but will assist in determining whether trade school, a two year junior
college or a four year university is the best option for your child. Texas Education Code Section 89.1070
outlines Graduation Requirements.
When
you review the graduation requirements, keep in mind that there are
various options to the TAKS testing in the state of Texas. During your ARD meetings, you should
discuss which version of the TAKS your child will take, keeping in mind
the graduation requirements and type of diploma you can receive. You have
the general education TAKS (which is what the majority of the students
take); you have the TAKS-ALT (which is the general education TAKS,
however it is a much larger font, more space between the questions and
fewer questions); you also have the TAKS-M which (means
"modified" and is the same as TAKS-ALT but having fewer answer
choices -- 3 instead of 4; simplified sentence structure; as well as
other accommodations.) There will
be an M sample online soon for you to review.
One good point was made -- when determining accommodations for your
child, make sure your child is AWARE of their accommodations. Do not only have accommodations for
your child during the TAKS testing.
This can stress the child out more because at the last minute they
are removed from the general education classroom to go to another
location to take the TAKS test. As
you expect the school to keep you informed of your child's situation, you
should keep your child abreast of what is expected of them and
what they are entitled to for accommodations.
Most anything you need to know about TEA and Special Education can be
found at www.tea.state.tx.us/special.ed/. They have a listing of
all the documentation available to the public; you can read it online or
print it off for later reference. This
section of TEA's website is kept updated, so refer to this site regularly
to keep up to date on any changes that may occur; or if you feel you
aren't getting the right answers, go here to find what you need. Always remember it's good practice to
know Code Sections when discussing problems you may be having. The more informed you are, the less
likely you will have problems with the school.
The Response to Intervention
(RTI) presentation was outlined as an "alternative" to
the general education initiative -- an instructional model for ALL
students, designed to address both academic and behavioral issues and
intended to ensure that instructional practices and interventions are
implemented to assist struggling students. It was NOT set up as a program for
students with disabilities or as another "hoop" to jump through
in order to get into special education.
This system was researched and created by numerous organizations
within TEA; national associations dealing with education; Parent/Teacher
Associations; and various universities within the state of Texas. It was adopted to specifically create a
curriculum for general education using multi-tiered interventions;
increasing in intensity based on a particular student's needs; monitoring
by the student's progress; and analyzing data models at most schools and
RTI contacts at each Region.
The Texas Behavior Support
Initiative (TBSI) was an outline of Senate Bill 1196 effective
September 1, 2001 which provides "it is the policy of this state to
treat all students with respect and dignity." It prohibits use of locked seclusionary
time-out in Texas Public schools, and it applies to charter schools. The
initiative defines just what seclusion, restraint and time-out can be and
allows the use of locked time-out in defined emergency situations. Each school campus should have several
employees who have been specifically trained on the TBSI program for
"crisis prevention intervention" (CPI). According to the statistics, academic
and social failures are related. Students with problems often suffer from
academic and social deficits, and those academic deficits are among the
most powerful predictors of social failure and problem behavior. This is a circle that must be
broken.
The Schoolwide Positive Behavior
program is an initiative that uses positive behavior supports for all
students, including those with disabilities. This is a three tiered model of
support: the universal support
which applies to all students; the selected
support which applies to at risk students used in small groups and
classroom strategies; and the targeted
support which is for high risk students and provides individual
intervention. There are seven
training modules that each core team on campus must have completed. It is my understanding that Region 4
offers this training on-line; however, I was unable to access it as a
parent. Nonetheless, your school
should know of and be fully trained with regard to this program. There are websites listed at the end of
this article which pertain to TBSI.
The last presentation was the Texas
Complaint Resolution Process.
I wish we could have had an entire day just for this topic. There are five stages of the conflict
resolution process: prevention, disagreement, conflict, procedural
safeguards and legal review. This
is my understanding of how it works: the first step is local resolution;
you want to try and resolve within the walls of your own school, if at
all possible. If you cannot
resolve, the next step would be to write and file your complaint. When filing your complaint letter, it
is always good practice to either mail via certified mail, return receipt
requested (so you know when it has been received) or UPS/FedEx. Using email or fax can be tricky - servers
can go down and you are never quite sure if anyone has received your
complaint. It is the same with a fax; even though your machine says you
have confirmation of reaching its final destination, that doesn't mean
the end machine won't run out of paper or get lost in memory. So go with the old standards! Once they have received your complaint
the clock begins ticking.
Your complaint should be filed with the state board, the local
superintendent, your school and the director of special education
within your district. A complaints
team will be assigned to you. Make
sure your letter includes as much factual information as you can
provide. Include your name; address; telephone numbers; relationship to
the student; student's name; date of birth; school identification number
(if they have one); the school's name and address; the services your
child qualifies for; what violation has been committed in connection with
those services; and what your resolution to the situation would be. Provide documentation, if you have any,
of the complaint to go along with the letter. This may include printed
emails, faxes, correspondence, notes from teachers, etc. regarding why
the services were not provided as written in your IEP. You do not need to provide copies of your
ARD paperwork, as the complaint team will get that from the school. Within a few days of the complaint
team's receipt of your letter, you should have a telephone call or follow
up letter acknowledging receipt.
If you receive a letter back, which most likely you will, you must comply
with the letter and stick to the time-frame they give you. In other words, if they tell you they
need documentation that you have not already provided, and they want said
documentation within two (2) weeks, MAKE SURE YOU GET IT DONE and sent to
them in a timely manner.
Otherwise, you have not met their compliance and you may have to
start all over again. The
complaints team may request other documentation from you; just make sure
you comply. An investigation will
begin upon receipt of the additional documentation requested, and then a
report is produced. You will be
given a copy of the report. A
corrective action response letter will then be sent out with the results
of the investigation and their recommendations for corrective actions.
All of this is usually done with 30-90 days, BUT be advised that this
process gives the school one (1) year to implement corrective actions
from date of issuance (in other words from the date of the corrective
actions letter you receive.)
During the conference, I received so much helpful information, it was a
little overwhelming. However, every one in attendance had wonderful
website information to hand out so you could return home and research on
your own (see Resource sites at end of this article). The speakers were very informative and
knowledgeable, and provided me with answers to the many questions I
receive from parents and my own school personnel. If they hold another Parent
Organization Academy, I hope to be invited back!
Remember to keep an eye on your own Region's website for upcoming
training seminars that parents can attend (www.esc#.net), usually free of charge.
Check out the Special Populations and find out who your director
is. They can provide a world of services
you never knew you, as a taxpayer, are entitled to!
Helpful
Resource sites provided by the presenters:
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"Bonne Nouvelle"
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Tim
Brennan of
North Richland Hills has completed all required course work and passed
both state exams for his teaching certificate! He plans to
begin teaching this fall. Ryan Cook of Allen (age 10)
represented his grade level on his school's UIL spelling team!
He has also been on the "A" honor roll all year and earned
the Webelos badge in Cub Scouts! Shawn Gayan,
a seventh grader from Dallas, has just been awarded his first class rank
in Boy Scouts! Shawn also plays the euphoniam and
was a soloist in his school band concert performance in
February! John
Michael Gerken (age 11) had a fantastic school
year! He struggled with difficult TS symptoms last year, but this
year he showed everyone what he can do making all As and
Bs! Emilie
Jacobs of Nacogdoches (age 8) is reading 153 words
per minute which is more than one year above her grade level. This
ties her for the top reader in the school's entire second grade! Cooper Pickle
will graduate from Paris High School this May as a Texas
Scholar! Cooper has taken accelerated and honors
courses all 4 years of high school. He has also played tenors
in the marching band, even qualifying for state competitions
in solo and percussion ensemble. He was also chosen
as a member of the Link Crew (a freshman orientation team). Cooper
plans to attend Paris Junior College in the fall and then transfer
to a university to earn a degree in Applied Arts and
Science. Matt
Plante has joined the Army National Guard! Landon Rosenbrock
of Port Lavaca (age 12) recently won a first place medal singing his solo
"Passing By" in a choir contest! Michael Sacks
of Houston (age 21) recently
graduated from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Michael
was awarded the Top
Academic Award, the Top
Gun Award and was selected to give the graduation
speech! Landon
Schaeffer was hired as a paid staff member at Camp
for All in Burton, Texas! Landon is working weekends
while attending Texas A&M in College Station. Alexander Taylor
of Garland (age 13) recently won an Award of Excellence for poetry in the
Council of PTAs Reflections contest! He also earned a
"one" for his solo string bass performance in the UIL
competition! CONGRATULATIONS
to all of these hard working Super Stars!!!
Please send us your "Bonne Nouvelle!" Has
your child received straight A's?
Recently graduated from college?
Are you, as a person with TS, successfully juggling home and
family? We would love to hear
about your "good news" for future issues. Or --
is there a topic or story you would like to see us cover in the
future? A question you have for
our Medical Advisory Board? Send
your question, story and/or pictures to TouretteTexas@aol.com.
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Texas Support Groups
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TSA of Texas has support groups in Austin, Channelview, Clear Lake, Dallas, Fort Worth, Golden Triangle, Katy, North Houston and San Antonio. Learn More>>. To start a support group in your area, please contact
Sheryl Kadmon, Executive Director of TSA of Texas, at 281-238-8096
or toll free at 866-894-8686.
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Physician Referral List
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TSA of Texas maintains a list of Texas physicians who are
experienced with TS. To receive a PRL for your area, please email TouretteTexas@aol.com
with your city location. We are
also seeking to expand our list, particularly in smaller cities, so if
you have a physician who does a great job dealing with TS, please email
us his or her contact information.
PHYSICIANS: if you are interested in learning more
about TS or being considered for our PRL, please contact Sheryl Kadmon,
Executive Director, at 281-238-8096 or 866-896-8484.
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How Can TSA of Texas Help You?
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TSA of Texas is here to assist families dealing with TS
throughout the state. We offer:
- EDUCATIONAL
PRESENTATIONS for physicians, school districts,
students, parents and the community.
- INFORMATION
DISSEMINATION via packets, brochures and
telephone conversations.
- LIBRARY of DVDs, videotapes and
books.
- REFERRAL to physicians, therapists,
community services, and state and county agencies.
- ADVOCACY through
assistance with ARDs, IEP, 504 or OHI classification.
- SUPPORT
GROUPS throughout the state.
- CHILDREN'S
WEEKEND camping
program "du Ballon Rouge."
- FAMILY
ACTIVITIES such as
baseball games, museum visits, swim parties, and more.
- SPECIAL
FUNDING sources
such as the Kenneth H. Davis Family Assistance Fund and Fund A
Need.
- ...and
much, much MORE!
Call TSA of Texas at 281-238-8096 (toll-free
1-866-894-8686) or email TouretteTexas@aol.com
for more information. If you have needs other than those listed
above, please let us know and we will do our best to help.
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How Can You Help TSA of Texas?
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TSA of Texas funds its services through private donations,
fundraising events and grant support.
We receive no state or federal funding. You can help TSA of Texas
and support Texas families dealing with TS by:
- ATTENDING our fundraising events
(e.g., our major Gala on 1/31/2008),
- DONATING an
item or gift certificate for Silent Auction at Gala,
- ORDERING a tribute card sent in honor of
someone's special event,
- CONTRIBUTING via cash, check or credit card to
our general fund,
- LINKING your Randall's Remarkable Card to
charity #2493, and
- REQUESTING a Kroger Share Card.
All donations are totally tax
deductible. Learn More>>
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