National TSA Honors Marilyn Trichon

Marilyn Trichon, our chapter’s co-chair and Director of
Education, received the TSA National Distinguished
Educator Award at the 2008 National Conference.

TEAM TSA

As part of Team TSA, Helene Walisever and her sister Peggy Herskowitz ran a quarter marathon (6.55 miles) at the Westchester Running Festival in White Plains on October 12, 2008. They raised over $850 for TSA.

                            THANK YOU HELENE AND PEGGY!!

 

 

 

 

 

Westchester Holds Dinner

On April 30, the Westchester Support Group had a successful “Dine-for-Tourette” dinner at Sam’s Italian Restaurant in Dobbs Ferry. Maurice, the owner, once again generously donated 30% of the evening’s proceeds to our chapter. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was festive.       

We thank Maurice for allowing us to have this very successful fundraiser at his wonderful restaurant and greatly appreciate his contribution to our chapter! We also thank Bobby’s Balloons for their generous support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter National TSA Holds National Conference

The 2008 TSA National Conference was held in Alexandria, Virginia April 4-6, and four chapter volunteers attended to learn the latest tools and strategies to help people with TS and their families.

 

                                

PARENT TOOLBOX MEETINGS, A SERIES OF STRATEGIES

We have been having very successful informative meetings for parents.  Our first workshop, Sept. 18^th, was on In-Servicing Schools and Back to School Strategies. Marilyn Trichon, Vice Chair and Education Director for our chapter,  presented the in-service presentation that she does for the schools, explaining TS and its related disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Sensory Dysfunction, Dysgraphia, and Anxiety.  Helene Walisever, psychologist and parent of children with TS, gave excellent strategies on organization tips: managing time, paper flow, how to avoid the homework wars, and low and high-tech writing helpers, especially helpful for children with dysgraphia.

Our second workshop was presented by Laura Preskin, Social Worker and a parent of a child with TS, talked about parent survivor skills. Have you ever wondered: how to advocate for your child’s success at school; how much professional support should you be providing for your child; how to parent a child with TS; how a child with TS affects family members; how do you find time for yourself and keep from getting overwhelmed and depressed?

Christine Valente, mother of two boys with TS, talked about anxiety and gave examples of how it is manifested in the TS child and adult. She also mentioned books and websites that would be helpful.  If you would like to have access to these resources, or if you missed these meetings and would like the notes on Helene and Laura’s talk, you can contact info@tsa-nyhv.org .

A Letter from Marilyn Trichon, Vice-Chair and Education Specialist

Over the years we have done 5 conferences for educators.  This year we decided we needed to reach more people. Since it is difficult for teachers to get release time for professional growth, our chapter is going to the schools. It is more work for us, but we reach more people. The education committee has been very busy, educating over 1000 people in many school districts.  But we have a long way to go.  It is so important that you contact your school to make sure your district has scheduled a workshop.  There are so many misconceptions about Tourette.  The professionals have to understand that Tourette is not just tics.  It is the associated disorders, ADHD, OCD, Anxiety, Sensory Difficulties, Fine Motor to name a few difficulties that make it difficult for learning. There also needs to be more peer in-services to discourage bullying.  Our children are going through so much; teasing makes it even more difficult for them.

Three more people have volunteered to learn how to do the in-services in the schools, bringing the total to 9.  We need more of you to help us, especially in the northern counties.  We also need more funding to support us.  We hand out many material for these free in-services.  The more we do, the more it costs.  Please be generous and help us help your children.

We are here to help you in a variety of ways, and we hope that you will take the time to look at what we've been doing and become even more involved in our chapter.

If you would like us to speak with your school district, you can call the chapter phone, 914-378-5025, or email us at info@tsa-nyhv.org.