SIMON
 

Simon’s Sample Presentation
created by Jen Zwilling, TSA Youth Ambassador program founder

(Before you begin remember download a picture of Simon from the website!)

Hi! Everyone.  My name is ________________.

Today, I am going to tell you about something called Tourette Syndrome.

Many kids and grown-ups all over the world have Tourette Syndrome and mostly everyone calls it TS because it is easier to say!

So many people have TS that there are lots of books about TS and lots of books with characters in them that have TS. 

(Now you can hold up your picture of Simon.)

This is Simon.  He has TS. 

But before I tell you about TS I am going to tell you a little bit about Simon.

Simon is a really cool boy and he is really good at a lot of things.

Simon is a GREAT soccer player and he is a really good student. Simon is a terrific speller and even won his School’s Spelling Bee.

Simon has lots of friends 

Simon and I have something in common (the same).  Simon also has something in common with you too!   

Simon is a regular kid, just like you and me.

Simon also has TS just like me. 

TS is something that you are born with just like you are born with the color of your hair or eyes.

TS is not something you can catch from someone the way you catch a cold…you are either born with TS or you don’t have it.

TS makes kids like Simon (and like me) move parts of their bodies when they don’t want to move….

and it can make kids make sounds when they don’t want to make sounds.

Simon makes a barking sound! His soccer team decided to make it part of what they do when they score! So Simon’s whole team sometimes makes barking noises together! 

These movements are called Tics….not T-I-C-K-S like the little black bug….these are T-I-C-S….which  mean that you move your body or make sounds when you don’t want to or are not trying to.

When you have TS and your tic comes you can’t stop it even if you want to.

But, TS is just a little part of a regular kid.

It doesn’t stop Simon (and me) from doing anything. 

I hope this helps you understand TS and why some kids move some parts of their bodies or make funny sounds when they don’t want to.

I hope that now that you know about TS, you will understand that it is just a little part of a regular kid.

Does anyone have any questions??????