teaching strategies for students with tourette's syndrome?

Question

Does anyone know of websites that contain tips and strategies for teachers who have students with tourettes?

Answer 1

Yes.

http://www.tsa-usa.org
http://www.socsci.ulst.ac.uk/education/scte/sen/types/tourettes.html
http://www.tourettes-disorder.com/
http://www.ucalgary.ca/oncampus/weekly/jan30-04/tourettes.html
http://www.tourettesyndrome.net/education.htm

Books:

Teaching the Tiger A Handbook for Individuals Involved in the Education of Students with Attention Deficit Disorders, Tourette Syndrome or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, by Marilyn P., Ph.D. Dornbush, Sheryl K. Pruitt

Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had, by Brad Cohen



I have a child with Tourettes, OCD and ADHD. Early on, we did not know what was going on with him, but I knew that the school did not know or could not help and were eager to label him. I am glad to see that you are reaching out to your students in this way. Kudos to you.

After four years of frustration, and home school trial and error, now we have a diagnosis and recognition of the disorder, he is in public school special ed and thriving with a caring and sensitive teacher.

TSA will provide you an in-service presentation if you desire. This, however, may focus on recognition of the disorder, and not teaching methods specifically. There are articles on this web site that do have teaching information, though.

I hope this helps. Please feel free to contact me for further, more specific questions, if you have them.

Answer 2

Get in touch with the national Tourette's Syndrome Association. They did a big fund raising push at the beginning of the school year so they could afford to have materials available to educators.

Answer 3

No, but I have two suggestions:
1) have them DELIBERATELY say the words, as every time they say it they gain synaptic connections they have control over. Once they get good at it, have them say the word half-way, then stop. As they start to gain control, don't draw too much attention to it, just support their choice and their growing control and ability to choose. Make them feel proud about being in charge of themselves, and make it clear they should never lose the ability to say such words, since words are power.

Now this particular aspect is rather rare, and obscene words aren't the most common manifestation, but I thought I'd start there as most people have that misconception. However, the principal can be applied to their vocal or physical behaviors as well.

The second thing:
Every once in a while, change what you are doing in class after they do their "thing". Build off of it, so that they discover they have some control over you when they do it and start to do it deliberately. Suppression is the best way to make a person LOSE control over something. Deliberately having them do it gives them practice at control, and making it fun will encourage control. If every time they do it you pick up a certain object, hold it for a bit, then put it down, without drawing any attention to it until the kids notice, not only will the child with the syndrome pay more attention, but ALL the kids will, watching your every move, every word for the newest. Tie vocubulary words to it. Touch a certain poster you want them to learn. Don't mention it. Let them discover what it is. If the kids are older, make it an abstract thing, such as touching things that measure, or using a preposition. Give them concepts to focus on while giving your other student a feeling of control which will grow as he deliberately chooses his behavior rather than let's it slip out uncontrolled.