The TSA Education program provides accurate, current information in many areas. Our materials are designed to help students, parents, families, educators, clinicians, and others understand, address, and manage symptoms of Tourette Syndrome in the school and other settings. By offering essential TS information, we want to promote optimal teaching and learning, end stigma, and promote acceptance regarding TS in school settings.

We also refer you to the Education Advocacy section of our site, designed to provide the tools needed by families and advocates when pursuing the best program options and services for our children.

In our ASK TSA about Education and Education Strategies section (link below), we invite your questions to our staff. We will answer all questions, and post questions and answers of general interest on this site; be assured that we will not include any personal or identifying information in our web postings.

click here to Ask TSA a question about Education or Education Strategies
and to view some previous questions and answers

Education headlines:

• TSA EDUCATION AUDIO PRESENTATIONS (audio with slideshow) - topics include Speech Pathology, Discipline,
  IEPs, Advocacy and more - click here.
  
  
• IEP ESSENTIALS FOR PARENTS - New publication for sale in our online store - look for #E-128 (and #E-128 downloadable).
  
  
• U. S. Department of Education issues "Restraint and Seclusion: Resource Document" - click here to read Summary
  Statement with link to full document; click here to read Fall 2012 "Inside TSA" newsletter article.
  
  
• TSA National Conference 2012 Presentations - Slide Shows and Handouts now available on this site - Education
  Resources, Bullying, much more - view all.
  
  
• TSA offers FREE DVDs - 2-DVD Set "Tourette Syndrome in the Classroom, School & Community"
  Limited Supply - click here to find out more and link to online order form.
  Click here to view online version (all contents are the same as on the DVD).
   
• NEW Bullying Prevention & Strategies resource page on this site - click here
  
  
• ASK THE EXPERT - Zero Tolerance in Schools - article from TSA's Fall 2010 Newsletter, Inside TSA
  
  
• TSA EDUCATION IN-SERVICE - Click here for DVD instructions OR click here for online presentation.
• HOW TO PRESENT the TSA EDUCATION INSERVICE - Judy Peterson, Kathy Giordano
• Presentation Tips (Notes for a Successful Presentation)
  

• Ask the Expert - Positive steps to take when children with TS are being bullied or teased- click here to read an interview
  with Peaceable Schools Coordinator Megan Toy from TSA's Summer 2007 Newsletter
  
  
• The IDEA: A Users Manual - a 4 page special article from our Winter 2006 Newsletter. Click here to read/download
  (Adobe Acrobat™ format)
  
  
• "Ask the Expert" - Articles from TSA's Quarterly Newsletters on a variety of topics of interest - click here
  

Some Important Education Considerations:

• Many students can work effectively when tics are explained to teachers and peers. Where additional help may be needed we offer useful articles and materials offering suggestions and classroom modifications.
   
• TSA offers information about current legislation affecting the TS community
   
• "ASK TSA": Every day TSA receives urgent questions from parents and teachers asking for help with specific classroom
  situations. In the ASK TSA section we present TSA's answers to real questions sent to us.  
  

FREE MATERIALS on Education and Education Strategies, of interest
to all educators and families:

• SAT/Standardized Tests - Summary of College Board Information for Students with TS
  
  
• Important Changes Regarding Eligibility for 504 Plans and Fact Sheet:504 Plan Eligibility
  
  
• Understanding and Dealing with Vocal Tics in the Classroom
  
  
• Bullying - How Do We Protect our Children? (For additional resources and information about bullying go to http://www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/)
  
  
• Getting Help at School - Where Do I Begin? (includes a SAMPLE LETTER to send to your child's school)
  
  
• TS and OT
  
  
• Understanding and Managing "Behaviors" (Adobe PDF™ format)
  
  

IMPORTANT EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS/VIDEOS - available for a nominal charge in our online store:

• WORKBOOK FOR CONDUCTING A FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT & WRITING A POSITIVE BEHAVIOR
  INTERVENTION PLAN FOR A STUDENT WITH TOURETTE SYNDROME - S. Conners, K. Giordano. Practical guide and
  valuable resource to address complex behavioral issues. Includes Overview of Functional Behavioral Assessments,
  FBA Worksheets, Positive Behavior Interventions
  • order print version to be mailed to you $5.00 - E126
  • downloadable version-"pdf" file to download to your computer and print $5.00 - E126DD
    
    
• I HAVE TOURETTE'S, BUT TOURETTE'S DOESN'T HAVE ME (Video) - In every school in America, it's likely that a
  t least one child may have Tourette Syndrome. The children are often stigmatized and almost always misunderstood.
  HBO Documentary originally aired 11/12/05 dispels the myths of TS through the experiences of young people. Extra
  DVD features include resources for educators, families, children interested in learning more about Tourette Syndrome, information from experts John Walkup, M.D., Susan Conners, M.Ed., and Evan Trost, M.D.
  • DVD format - TSA Member's price $9.99 - DVD13M
  • DVD format - TSA Non-Member's price $14.99 - DVD13NM
  • DVD format - price each for 20 or more $6.99 - DVD13V
    
    
• TEACHERS WHO "GET IT" - C. B. Korman. Families and teachers know how difficult things become when TS is misunderstood and mis-handled in the school setting. Here is a paper that focuses on the opposite . . . the most
  positive outcomes . . . the benefits to the child, teacher, school and family when a dedicated teacher really"gets it"
  about Tourette Syndrome. Read how several excellent, committed teachers recognized TS in their classrooms, and responded with attuned, creative approaches. The results? Positive"win-wins" for everybody! Our thanks to
  teachers who 'get it'.
  • order print version to be mailed to you $3.00 - E103
  • downloadable version-"pdf" file to download to your computer and print $3.00 - E103DD
    
    
• EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY MANUAL - K. Giordano, TSA Education Specialist, has developed the TSA Educational
  Advocacy Manual to help parents & families more effectively advocate for students with Tourette Syndrome in
  school. Topics include: What Is Advocacy? When Is Advocacy Necessary?
  • order print version to be mailed to you $6.00 - E119
  • downloadable version-"pdf" file to download to your computer and print $6.00 - E119DD
    
    
• CATALOG OF ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH TS, ADHD, OCD - S. Conners, M.Ed. Written in response to
  requests from dedicated teachers, suggests effective accommodations designed to promote learning and acceptance.
  • order print version to be mailed to you $5.00 - E125
  • downloadable version-"pdf" file to download to your computer and print $5.00 - E125DD
    
    
• SPECIFIC CLASSROOM STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES FOR STUDENTS WITH TS - S. Conners, M.Ed. Offers helpful suggestions and accommodations that can be brought right into the classroom. Includes techniques for tic symptoms,
  fine motor, visual motor impairment, ocd symptoms, short fuse difficulties, adhd symptoms.
  • order print version to be mailed to you $2.00 - E115b
  • downloadable version-"pdf" file to download to your computer and print $2.00 - E115bDD

Additionally, we suggest the following items from our online store:

• IEP Essentials for Parents - Explains the basics of the IEP including what it is, the steps to obtain one, the formal meeting process, eligibility, and developing an IEP.  Order a version to be mailed to you (E-128), or download to your computer and print (E-128DD).
  
  
• Educating Classmates About TS (A Peer In-service) Children and parents can use this guide to decide when and how to discuss TS with classmates. Order a version to be mailed to you (E-122), or download to your computer and print (E-122DD).
  
  
• Learning Problems and the Student with TS  Explores the symptoms and conditions  associated with TS that affect
  learning. Topics covered include difficulties in acquiring the basic skills of reading, writing, spelling and math.
  Classroom modifications pertaining to auditory processing deficits, fine motor, visual-motor impairment and executive function are discussed. Order a version to be mailed to you (E-116), or download to your computer and print (E-116DD).
  
  
• To view all of TSA's Publications and Videos for Sale, Please Visit our Online Store.