THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY ALLOWAY, WOZNIAK, STACK, FERLO, BOSCOLA, TARTAGLIONE, KASUNIC, BAKER, FONTANA, PILEGGI, PIPPY, RAFFERTY, ERICKSON, O'PAKE, LOGAN, M. WHITE, WAUGH, EARLL, GREENLEAF, WASHINGTON, DINNIMAN, KITCHEN, MELLOW, BROWNE, COSTA, D. WHITE, YAW, FARNESE AND WARD, MAY 5, 2009

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MAY 5, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating May 15 through June 15, 2009, as "Tourette Syndrome

Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, An estimated 200,000 people in the United States and

more than 3,000 citizens of this Commonwealth have been

diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, a neurobiological, genetic

condition that has no cure; and

WHEREAS, Tourette Syndrome is a developmental disability that

begins before a child reaches 18 years of age and affects

children and adults of all races and ethnicities; and

WHEREAS, Individuals with Tourette Syndrome are affected by

tics and involuntary, rapid, sudden movements or vocalizations

that occur repeatedly; and

WHEREAS, Individuals with Tourette Syndrome face periodic

changes in the nature and severity of their tics, as these

symptoms wax and wane and change without forewarning; and

WHEREAS, Individuals with Tourette Syndrome frequently have

related conditions that further complicate their care and

diagnosis, including attention deficit disorder, attention

deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder,

mood disorders, learning disabilities, handwriting difficulties,

executive function disorder and sensory processing disorder; and

WHEREAS, Individuals with Tourette Syndrome are frequently

misunderstood by their families, the community and even by the

medical profession due to their seemingly controllable behavior

and variety of symptoms; and

WHEREAS, Individuals with Tourette Syndrome are often

ostracized by the general public, and children with Tourette

Syndrome are disciplined for various manifestations of their

disability by educators who do not understand that the child is

not in control of his actions any may be delayed in his maturity

and emotional responses; and

WHEREAS, Individuals with Tourette Syndrome face

discrimination from educators, friends, family, employers,

coworkers and the judicial system while dealing with their

unpredictable disorder and uncertain future; and

WHEREAS, Schools are required to make accommodations to

support students with Tourette Syndrome to be successful in

their education program; and

WHEREAS, Many schools resist or limit services for a number

of reasons, but most commonly due to the complexity of the

disorder being misclassified as behavioral or emotional; and

WHEREAS, Individuals with Tourette Syndrome are often very

intelligent and capable of great contributions to society when

given the proper support; and

WHEREAS, Employers are required under the Americans with

Disabilities Act to disregard disability in hiring or promotions

and to make accommodations to support employees with Tourette

Syndrome so that the employees can be successful in the

workplace and not be forced to file for disability; and

WHEREAS, Employers can benefit from that success, however,

employers often neglect to hire, promote and make accommodations

for individuals with Tourette Syndrome; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Tourette Syndrome Association,

Inc., has been established to promote awareness and to support

individuals with Tourette Syndrome across this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Understanding Tourette Syndrome will help guarantee

hope for acceptance and a better future for people with this

disorder; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate May 15 through June 15,

2009, as "Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and

urge all citizens to support education and awareness of Tourette

Syndrome and to assist those individuals and families who deal

with this neurobiological disorder every day of their lives.