Greater Missouri TSA

The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) at the U.S. Centers For Disease Control (CDC) offers some useful online information about Tourette Syndrome (TS), including information on some of the CDC’s work with TS in epidemiology and other areas.

Follow this link to learn more.

Through May 8, if you shop online or in-person at any Barnes & Noble store for the book, Wishes for a Mother’s Heart — or any other items — a portion of the proceeds will benefit the national Tourette Syndrome Association. Remember to use ID number “10476034″ when checking out and (online) click the box that says “Bookfair Order.”

Three new articles have been added to the ever-growing “Living With TS” section of the TSA website.

In addition to these new articles, you will find on this page a range of articles and features designed to inform and support people with Tourette Syndrome. Many of the topics on this page have been suggested by adults and young adults in the TSA community.

Three informative video sessions — filmed at the April 2010 Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) National Conference, to help children, teens, young adults and families — are now available for viewing at the National TSA Website.

Just in time for Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month, which starts May 15, the National TSA has distributed two print public service announcements (PSAs).

One is geared to youth — and one is geared to adults.

Feel free to download, print, distribute, and post these documents in appropriate locations — schools, libraries, doctor’s offices, etc. — to help raise awareness of Tourette Syndrome.

We apologize for not posting this information sooner.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has released a draft of the proposed diagnostic criteria for the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), expected to be finalized and published in 2013. The public is encouraged to review the current draft and offers comments via the DSM-5 Web site by April 20.

To view and comment on the proposed changes, go here. The National TSA’s position on the proposed changes is available here.

The diagnostic criteria in the DSM are used widely by physicians, insurance companies, and other professionals for diagnosing medical conditions and managing medical-care reimbursements for individuals with neuropsychological disorders, including Tourette syndrome.

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Commenting Instructions

At the home page of the APA’s DSM-5 Web site, you should see a list in the center of the page. Find and click on this item: “Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood, or Adolescence.”

Scroll down the new page. Toward the bottom, you should see “Tic Disorders.” Click on “307.23 Tourette’s Disorder.”

Again, scroll down the new page until you see the option: “Register Now.”

After clicking “Register Now,” fill in the form with your name and contact information; answer the security question and submit the page.

You will be sent an email with a temporary password.

Once you have this temporary password, go back to the APA’s DSM-5 Web site and log in (at the top, right-hand side of the screen) with your username and the password that was emailed to you.

After logging in, you will be taken back to the home page of the APA DSM-5 Web site. Again, click on “Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood, or Adolescence” and then “307.23 Tourette’s Disorder.”

At this point, now that you’re registered, you should see a comment box at the bottom of the screen. Type in your comment, answer the security question, and submit your comment. You should receive a confirmation saying that your comment has been submitted.

Your Facebook votes in the first round helped the National TSA place among the top 100 charities to receive $25,000.

Your votes are needed again — and this time, the organization that gets the most votes receives $1 million, with the next five vote-getters receiving $100,000.

Please vote today.

If you’re already a Facebook member, go here to vote — then scroll down to read the National TSA’s “Big Idea” for using the funds to help those affected by Tourette Syndrome across the country.

If you’re not yet a Facebook member, please join so you can vote for TSA.

If you’re on Facebook, visit the National TSA Facebook page, become a fan, and stay informed about Tourette Syndrome news, events, publications, and other updates.

Charities that receive the most votes on Facebook have an opportunity to receive funding between $25,000 and $1 million.

If you’re already a Facebook member, go here to vote.

If you’re not yet a Facebook member, join, then vote for TSA.