Parent and Guardian Support Group: Tourette Syndrome 101

Audience: Parents and guardians of children with TS or other Tic Disorders who have been recently diagnosed within the last 6 months to one year.  

Description: This support group will focus on the basics of Tourette Syndrome. Parents will learn exactly what TS is, tips for management strategies, and meet other parents who are also early on in their TS journey. Each meeting will include a brief education session regarding the specific topic listed below, followed by group discussion and conversations regarding real-life application, current experiences and strategies that have been helpful.

TAA online support groups are available for people who may be located in underserved areas with limited access to resources and support. Space for these groups is extremely limited, and registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applications for the group below will be closed when the group is full. If the groups are full, you may complete the form, and you will be added to the waitlist. If you have any questions, please contact Alexandra Walsh (alexandra.walsh@tourette.org).  

Attendance Policy: By registering for this group, I understand that I am making a commitment to attend all six sessions of this online support group to the best of my ability. I understand that these online support groups are a limited resource and are designed for members of the TS and Tic Disorder community who have limited access to local support (through a local TAA Chapter and/or Center of Excellence). If there are local support resources available for me, I will prioritize those opportunities and allow others in need to participate in these virtual support groups. 

If I am unable ot attend a session, it is my responsibility to communicate to the group facilitator and TAA program manager, Alexandra Walsh at Alexandra.Walsh@tourette.org. Inability to communicate about my absence may result in potential removal from the group.

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Contact Information
Additional Information

Group Agreement

  • Practice active listening when others are talking and do not interrupt other parents.
  • What's said here, stays here. What's learned here, leaves here. This group should be a place where people can share things about their identity and not worry about it being discussed outside of the group. But take other knowledge and learning with you!
  • Take space, make space. If you tend to talk a lot, challenge yourself to wait and let others speak first. And if you're someone who tends to hold back and listen, challenge yourself to contribute a little more.
  • Use “I” statements. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs and opinions, as long as they are sharing their own personal experience. Avoid speaking on behalf of others or making broad generalizations about groups of people.
  • We are all learning. If you have spent a lot of time reading about Tourette symptoms, try to remember that there was a time when you were just learning, too. Be patient with people who have just begun their learning. You still have things to learn, too.
  • Care for each other. Life is hard, and it is easy to take out our stress on one another. Be gentle and kind with each other. We are all in this together!
  • No support group member is permitted to promote outside products, services, or practices.

Commitment Agreement
By joining this group, I commit to attending the support group sessions regularly. If I cannot attend a session, I will give 24 hours' notice whenever possible.

Confidentiality Agreement

I agree that I will keep confidential the personal information of other group participants participating in the Online support group program. “Personal information” refers to information that may be used to determine the identity of another group member, including but not limited to the name of a group member, the name of other family members, home address, or phone number. I also understand that once the group has been terminated, I must continue to abide by the confidentiality agreement. I have read and fully understand the information provided above. I understand that if I breach this agreement, I will be asked to leave the group. By signing this document, I agree to abide by the confidentiality requirements in this form

TAA Event Terms & Conditions

TAA Parent Online Support Group Pre-Test
Thank you for applying to participate in our online support group offered through the TAA-CDC Partnership. We hope the online support group will be helpful to you. We ask for just a few minutes of your time to please complete the following survey. The results will help us to assess the impact of the support groups and identify areas for improvement. We thank you for your time.