15 Suggestions for How to Participate in Tourette's Syndrome Awareness Month

Hey everyone! So for many of you today marks the start of your first TS awareness month being diagnosed with TS or having a child diagnosed with TS. TS awareness month is very important for the TS community in terms of spreading awareness and every single person can do something to make a different in terms of spreading the word about TS! Even if you are not new to the TS diagnosis, this may be your first TS awareness month that you feel strongly about participating in. If you are new to TS, new to participating in TS awareness month, or just want some extra suggestions on how to spread awareness this TS awareness month these 15 suggestions may be helpful for you!  So here they are, 15 suggestions for how to participate in TS awareness month and how to start spreading the word!

1.Educate yourself. Educating yourself about what you or your child is going through is the first step. You have to educate yourself before you can educate others about what TS really is and how it really can effect someone's life.  One of the first places to visit for accurate information is the national TSA website: www.tsa-usa.org

2.Educate others verbally when asked about TS. When you are asked about TS because someone notices something different about you or your child, it can sometimes be easy to shy away from this opportunity and say something like "don't worry about it" or "it's not your business". While this can sometimes be less difficult than trying to explain, once you are educated about TS you should take questions as an opportunity to educate others about TS. Telling this one person can make a difference! The next time they come across someone who has TS, they will know not to judge them. And next time you come across someone who asks questions, you will feel more comfortable educating them because you have already done so before!

3.Purchase posters, tee-shirts, stickers, or other TS themed items and use them to spread awareness about TS. Put a TS bumper sticker on your car, or wear a TS tee-shirt out in public and if anyone asks you about it, proudly explain why you are wearing the shirt, sporting the bumper sticker, or carrying a TS themed coffee cup. Here are a few places you can purchase TS themed items online. Most of the proceeds from these places go to supporting TS research as well, so just by purchasing them you are contributing to the cause!

http://store.tsa-usa.org

http://www.cafepress.com/+tourette's-syndrome+gifts

http://tourettes.spreadshirt.com/

4.Donate money to the national Tourette's Syndrome association, TEAM TSA, Camp Twitch and Shout, The Brad Cohen Tourette Foundation, or other TS related causes.

Here is where you can donate online to  TEAM TSA: http://tsa-usa.org/give/gvdon_teamtsa.html

Here is where you can donate to the national TSA : http://tsa-usa.org/give/gvdon_gen_or_recur.html

Here is where you can donate to camp twitch and shout: http://camptwitchandshout.org/donate.html

Here is where you can donate to The Brad Cohen Tourette Foundation: http://bradcohentourettefoundation.com.s96002.gridserver.com/?page_id=9

5.Post TS facts, pictures, or videos on your facebook page, twitter, tumblr, or other social networking site

6.Make a video or a few videos about living with TS and post them on youtube or facebook to educate others.

7.Submit a video to us for our ongoing Tourette's Syndrome documentary project. Although we are going to be releasing the website and many videos from the project near the end of TS awareness month, it is going to be an ongoing project so video submissions will always be encouraged and appreciated. For instructions on how to film and submit the video visit: http://alittlebitdiffrent.blogspot.com/2012/10/instructionsquestions-sheet-for-new.html

8.Submit artwork/drawings to our page's TS awareness month drawing contest. Simply draw/ have your child draw "what it is like to have TS" and then send it to jspershing93@gmail.com and it will be posted on the page and winners and prizes will be announced at the end of the month.

9.Share your story with us! Write out your TS story and also send pictures of youself/your child. Your story will be shared on the page and on my blog and one more story will be out there!

10.Start a blog, facebook page, youtube channel, etc of your own and start sharing your experiances, spreading TS awareness, and getting the word out there through your own personal experience.

11.Make your own TS awareness posters or digital image and then post them on social media sites or tape them up around your area. Here is one of my favorite sites that I use to make TS awareness posters/ digital images: http://pixlr.com/

12.Start your own TS awareness project or initiative. Get creative!

13.Attend your local TSA Chapter or TS support group. Become part of the TS community. If there is no TSA Chapter or  support group in your area, start one!

14.Orginize your own TS walk/run/event in your area and donate the proceeds to a TS cause!

15.Or just think of your own amazing idea to spread the word about TS this month! You can do it!