TS Youth - What's Ticcin'?

2012 TSA YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM          

Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel, Arlington, VA

April 17-19, 2012

SIGN UP DEADLINE December 30, 2011

The TSA National Youth Ambassador Program prepares teens with TS and others the skills they need to speak about TS before their peers at school, sports leagues, scout troops, camps, after school programs, government officials, etc…with the goal of increased understanding and tolerance.

If you are motivated and would like to be a TSA Youth Ambassador and are between the ages of 13 – 17 (those without TS may also apply if they are committed to the goals of the program and want to help promote understanding of the disorder), please visit TSA USA 2012 Youth Ambassador Conference Description.

If this sounds like a great opportunity and you would like to become a Youth Ambassador and attend the 2012 National Conference, please print and complete the TSA USA 2012 Youth Ambassador Application Form.  If you would additional information, send an email to tsaillinois@yahoo.com letting them know you are interested in the Youth Ambassador Program and we will send you a DVD about the program.  Contact us right away so you have time to view the DVD and send your completed application to: Tourette Syndrome Association of Illinois (TSA-IL), 800 E Roosevelt Road, A-10, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137.  For any additional questions, please send an email (tsaillinois@yahoo.com) or call the TSA IL Office (630) 790-8083.

TSA-IL YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED!

What?  You can’t wait that long and you want to get involved now?  Well you can with your local chapter, TSA Illinois.  Send an e-mail to tsaillinois@yahoo.com and let us know!  We NEED YOU! 

The more involved children and teens get, the more you can help each other!  Your story could help others who may have never met another child/teen with TS to realize they are NOT alone, just because they are different doesn’t mean they are not absolutely, 100% AMAZING!  Your voice (in writing, speaking, prose or art) sharing your positive and difficult experiences can give a child or teen hope.  With hope, all things are possible!   

WELCOME TO OUR NEW YOUTH PAGE! 

PBS Documentary, Different is the New Normal:  Living Life with Tourette's

James Durbin & Ariel Small

Different is the New Normal:  Living a Life with Tourette's is a new PBS documentary featuring the Small Family in Highland Park, IL.  The film reveals a very personal view of 17 year old Ariel Small, who was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome (TS) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) as a child.  

The documentary bravely shows the Small family's journey to understand Tourette Syndrome, Ariel's day to day dealings with TS including the trials and tribulations associated in handling others' intolerance and misconceptions about TS as well as Ariel's triumphs and successes.  Most importantly he doesn't let Tourettes define him.  He has dreams and the ability to make them  happen. 

The documentary also features The Wolinski family of Highland Park.  Ariel mentors several kids with TS, including Bradley Wolinski.  Bradley considers Ariel a best friend, someone who can truly understand what it's like to deal with the complexities of having TS and feeling like an outsider.

Ariel got to meet someone he greatly looks up to for inspiration, 22 year old James Durbin of Season 10's American Idol.  James shares some of his experiences in dealing with bullying at school, rejection, isolation along with hard work and tenacity to follow his dreams of being on American Idol even after he was rejected when he tried out for Season 8.   

The film was produced in the hopes of raising awareness about Tourette Syndrome and to help others living it to realize they are not alone and they can achieve their dreams. 

Meet Two TSA-IL YOUTH AMBASSADORS – Ben Auerbach & David Glass

 

Ben Auerbach & David Glass -- IL Youth Ambassadors

David Glass is one of TSA-Illinois' Youth Ambassadors.  David attended 2010's Youth Leadership Conference on Capital sponsored by The Tourette Syndrome Association of America (TSA).

This year's TSA-IL's Youth Ambassador is Ben Auerbach.  Ben had a wonderful time at this year's conference in Washington DC.  

David and Ben got to meet each other at the Tourette Connection Support Group in April and share experiences and goals.  They both look forward to answering any questions you might have for them!  Please submit any questions you may have for Ben or David to tsaillinois@yahoo.com.

TS ARTICLES FOR YOUTH WRITTEN BY YOUTH

What TS Has Done For Me  – by Ben Auerbach, age 17

Hello, my name is Ben Auerbach, and I am sure that you have already guessed that I have Tourette Syndrome.  Well, you would be correct. I was diagnosed with TS in 4^th grade.  At first, I continuously blinked and had a terrible stutter.  I also would do a little dance when I walked.   It turns out that this dance might have been a “sign” from the future. I have been taking Hip Hop dance classes four times a week for two years now, including performing in a company that required an audition.

During middle school, my TS was manageable, even though the tics were still prevalent in my daily life. In 6^th grade I made a high-pitched noise while taking tests, which distracted many of my classmates. In order to fix this problem, I started listening to an I-pod and sitting at the teacher’s desk in the back of the room during tests. I loved this solution since it made me feel special and deserving of such privileges like using an I-pod, which was not allowed in my school, and sitting at the coveted desk of the teacher, where everyone wanted to sit.

By high school my tics were going full speed and continue to do so today.  I made noises, bit walls, and even flipped people off along with many other tics. I will admit that my tics were sometimes used in devilish ways. For instance, one Thanksgiving, my cousin brought her fiancé to dinner to meet the family for the first time. I was seated next to him. At that time I had a tic that required me to throw my arm out at full extension sideways. So as we were enjoying a lovely dinner as a family, I randomly flung my arm right into my cousin’s fiancé’s face. While he was shocked with pain, the whole family was dying of laughter.

Throughout the years I have made attempts to learn how to control my tics. For example, on a trip to New York City, my mother insisted that if I could not bite the walls of the subway stations.  Enough other people have done their own “tics” to those walls.

And if all of this wasn’t enough for me, last summer I started having copralalia. I was swearing constantly. I was naturally upset. However, it was during that summer that I gave my first speech about TS to around 300 people. Though it was from 11:30 PM until 12:30 AM, people were sitting on the edges of their seats and ended up giving me a standing ovation. I also had the opportunity to give a speech about my TS to my junior class at my school, which apparently ended up with people in tears of inspiration.

My TS has limited me and I have struggled with it for many years, but I always recognize the great achievements that it has helped me attain; whether they are by making dance a huge part of my life, or through my speeches that I love to deliver. Also, I always remember my two mantras, which are that everything that happens is for the good and that all challenges presented to someone can be overcome. Had it not been for my TS, I would never have realized how amazing life is and that though I have a disadvantage, I should not let it handicap me.  Rather, I should make the best of the situation in order to “win the war against TS,” by having a positive attitude.  I do this by making jokes about my TS so I can help people laugh about it. Otherwise I would go insane and so would all those around me. 

Also, I am a huge supporter of education on TS. So much so that I have been chosen to represent all of those who have TS in Illinois as the 2011 Youth Ambassador of TSA Illinois.  I am very honored to be given this position and I hope to be an example of how amazing people with TS are. We are not just people who blink or swear all the time; we have much to offer the world. Come see my dance performance and you will see what I mean.