National Tourette Syndrome Association Celebrates Tenth Year of Partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

BAYSIDE, N.Y., March 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The national Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA), a membership driven, non-profit organization dedicated to serving all people with Tourette Syndrome (TS), celebrates the start of the tenth year of its distinctive program partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. This highly effective partnership offers professional and public education and outreach programs to promote medical awareness of TS, as well as training for educational and allied professionals, and for clinical professionals interested in Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT).

"We are pleased to continue our work with TSA and appreciate their commitment to the community, providers, and educators. Through this partnership TSA provides much needed education and health information to improve the lives of those living with TS," said Coleen A. Boyle, PhD, MSHyg, Director, CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.

"During the past decade, TSA and the CDC have built an authoritative program and an extraordinary relationship," said Gary Frank, TSA Executive Vice President. "We have a highly professional collaboration and truly value this incredible partnership which allows us to work together on program design, evaluation and outreach. Through our joint efforts, we have fostered public awareness and professional knowledge about this complex and misunderstood disorder. Our programs for medical, educational and allied professionals across the country have positively improved and increased their recognition and management of TS," he added.

Since the inception of the partnership, over 700 live programs and exhibits have been held in every state, reaching nearly 54,000 medical and allied professionals. In addition, TSA has developed and distributed a range of educational resources including online videos and resource pages on the national TSA website, DVDs and printed materials. It is estimated that through live programs, collaborations with professional organizations, various mailings and awareness initiatives, over 100,000 professionals and members of the public have been reached by this program.

About the Tourette Syndrome Association
Marked by involuntary vocal sounds and physical movements called tics, Tourette Syndrome is an inherited neurological condition frequently misunderstood and misdiagnosed. Founded in 1972, the national Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) is celebrating its 42^nd year as the only national, voluntary health organization for people with Tourette Syndrome. The TSA has a three-pronged mission to identify the cause of, control the effects of, and to find a cure for Tourette Syndrome through education, research and service. The TSA directs a network of 33 Chapters and more than 150 support groups across the country. For more information about TS, call 1-888-4-TOURET or visit http://tsa-usa.org and on Facebook and Twitter.

Press Contact:
Tracy Colletti-Flynn
national Tourette Syndrome Association
[email protected]
718-224-2999

SOURCE Tourette Syndrome Association