Hey baseball fans! On Sunday, June 12th, at 1 PM, the Tourette Association of America: Missouri Chapter is heading to the ballpark and cheer on the River City Rascals!

It will be an exciting day for our Tourette family as we sit directly behind home plate and watch as our own Youth Ambassador, Drew Guise, throws out the first pitch. The Rascals are even playing a double-header that day, so you are welcome to stay for the second game for FREE!

If that isn’t enough, the ballpark is having a special Star Wars theme for the day. Characters from the movie will be on hand to offer Jedi Training and lightsaber battles. (Come on! You know the Force will be with you as you battle Darth Maul!)

Our Chapter will be purchasing two tickets for each Tourette family as well as giving each child $5 in Rascal Bucks to spend on food or souvenirs.

The River City Rascals Stadium is located at: 900 T R Hughes Blvd in O’Fallon, MO 63366.

RSVP deadline is Tuesday, May 31st. To reserve your tickets, call or email Kurtis Matzkind at kmatzkind@hotmail.com or 616-802-0472.

Hello everyone,

We wanted to pass along the sad news that Lu Moorman, our long-time Board member has passed away. Lu has had several health struggles recently but this has come as a shock.

Lu was a strong advocate for Tourette awareness, a very knowledgeable education liaison, and a good friend to so many. She managed to balance great patience and kindness with incredible strength and fortitude when advocating for many of our children’s rights. She will be greatly missed.

The Board will be sending flowers for her memorial, but we wanted to make sure to alert everyone.

Visitation is from 10 AM to noon on Thursday, April 28 at St. Catherine Laboure (9750 Sappington Rd., St. Louis, 63128). The memorial Mass will then take place at noon.

Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.

The Board of the Tourette Association – Missouri Chapter

The greater Missouri Tourette Association offers scholarships for Camp Joshua to members whose dues are current. Below you can find a letter from Camp Joshua with more information. If you have any questions you can contact Lynn Dunlap via email at lmchd52@gmail.com.

“Dear Joshua Center Friends,

SESSION 1: June  6th – 8th (for children who have completed 3rd grade – 6th grade)

SESSION 2: June 9th – 12th (for children who have completed 7th grade – 12th grade)

Each summer we host more than 120 kids at our camps. Our camps are accredited with the American Camp Association. Space is limited and slots fill quickly, so please register early! If you have any questions at all about camp, please give us a call at 816-763-7605.

Click HERE to find out more information and to get registered. We also have a couple of ways to help you raise funds for your camp fees. World’s Finest Chocolate Bars (info on that below) and a Yankee Candle fundraiser.

Executive Director

sarah@joshuacenter.com “

Please enjoy these pictures taken at our Chesterfield Sports Fusion family fun night!

Below is a summary of upcoming meeting and events for the 2015-16 school year. Unless otherwise indicated, events will be in the St. Louis area. Where available, follow the provided links for more information.

Oct.1: 7:00-8:30 Back To School Night, Destiny Church(basement), 1809 Des Peres Rd. 63131 Jackie Schechter(Washington University Senior) and Kurtis & Courtney Matzkind(Kurtis is a high school teacher w/TS) talk about their experiences growing up with TS and navigating successfully through school, jobs, and relationships.

Lynn Dunlap(Special Education teacher and School Psychological Examiner) will also be available for questions, and a book review on current literature pertaining to TS.

Parents, Teachers, and Students are welcome. Teacher information packets will be available for you to take to your child’s school.

January 22nd – Chesterfield Sports Fusion,  5:00 -8:00 pm 

On Friday, January 22nd, the Missouri Chapter of the Tourette

Association will be sponsoring a FREE EVENT at Chesterfield Sports Fusion. CSF offers mini-golf, dodgeball, laser tag, a climbing wall, a variety of video games and more.
The Tourette Association will sponsor up to two children per family with an Attraction Sampler Pack that evening. We will also have a party room from 5 – 6 PM with pizza and drinks.

Due to the space and size requirements, we are requiring reservations by January 6th. Please rsvp or direct questions to Diana Guise [636-938-3858 or StLGuises@yahoo.com] or the Missouri Chapter email address: MissouriTSA@yahoo.com.

June – Children’s Activity (To Be Announced)

Look for upcoming information about our First Annual Tourette Syndrome Walk!

In addition, if you would like to request an association speaker for your child’s school, please contact us at 314-984-9019.

Please take 3-4 minutes and help students and adults who have Tourette Syndrome.  By clicking the links below, you will be provided with an easy, and quick method to automatically send an important email to your representations regarding education issues and funding for TS research. Additionally, this will result in awareness that TS is an important disorder that impacts thousands of their constituents and which requires their continued support.  Following are brief summaries and links.

Ø  Education 

1. Students who are bright and have diagnoses that interfere with their education are being denied necessary services.
2. Manifestation Determination protection MUST NOT be removed from IDEA. This protects students with disabilities from being suspended for symptoms. For additional information regarding protections provided by manifestation determination, read Letter of the Month that is at the top of TS website Education Page. http://tsa-usa.org/Education/education_main.htm
3. Require that College Education Majors and teachers who are re-certifying receive information regarding TS

http://cqrcengage.com/tsa/app/write-a-letter?11&engagementId=123893

Ø  Include TS in Research   

Tourette Association has an opportunity to be included in a bill regarding funding for research of neurological disorders.http://cqrcengage.com/tsa/app/write-a-letter?11&engagementId=123893

Thank you in advance.

When: Thursday April 9th, 2015 @ 7:00pm

Where:  Destiny Church (basement rear enterance)  1809 Des Peres Road, St. Louis, 63131

Panel members/ guest speakers:

Washington University Movement Disorders clinic specialists: Dr. Kevin Black & Dr. Sheel Pathak, Neurologist. The doctors are leading neurologists in the area with extensive TS experience. They are knowledgeable in the current treatments, therapies, and medications for children and families.

Patti Dean, Special School District for the Rockwood district. As an SSD teacher, Patti can address questions related to the best ways to help your children and work with teachers.

FREE TOURETTE SYNDROME WRISTBANDS FOR ALL ATTENDEES!! 

We look forward to seeing you there!

A Washington University research study seeks participants! 

A TS-related study is being conducted by doctors at the Washington University School of Medicine.

Dr. Kevin Black is conducting a study with children between the ages of five and 12 who are experiencing a recent onset (within the past six months) of “tics” — repetitive, involuntary sounds or movements such as eye blinking, sniffing, abdominal tensing, or making small noises.

The purpose of this study is to compare children who go on to develop Tourette Syndrome (TS) with those who do not. The study considers children ages five to 12 and defines “recent onset” as occurring within the past six months.

Requirements include three visits over approximately 12 months, questionnaires, assessments, interviews, genetic testing (saliva sample), and MRI scans. Volunteers will be compensated up to $310 for time and effort.

Parental permission is required. For more information, contact the study coordinator, Emily, at 314-362-2083 or bihune@npg.wustl.edu.