You CAN make a difference to Tourette Syndrome!

Our fundraising goal is to raise Euro 5000 to develop a blueprint and starter package to support upcoming Tics and Tourette Associations in countries with no TS patient organisation. 

Please help us with your contribution to raise funds to support those touched by Tics and Tourette. 
Tics and Tourette Across the Globe (TTAG) is the international umbrella organisation representing Tic and Tourette Syndrome (TS) and tic disorder advocacy groups around the world. There are many Tourette Patient Associations across the world, but we decided that together we can achieve much more! There are also many parts of the world without Tourette Patient Associations, something we think urgently needs to change.

How will your fund help you, a friend or a loved one with Tics/Tourette Syndrome?
Challenges faced as a result of the condition can be physically and psychologically crippling. People with Tourette Syndrome are often met with misunderstanding, and they have to combat ignorance, stigma and intolerance. Our objective is that our global collaboration of patient groups, experts and other supporting professionals will advance the rights of, and advocate on every level throughout the world for, people affected by TS and co-morbid conditions in order to help them fulfil their full potential.

Let’s make a difference together as we create a more universal approach, as we strive to improve the understanding of the condition, as well as to share Tourette Patient Associations successes and experiences. Together, let's inspire our community and beyond! 

There are various ways you can get involved and make a lasting difference on a global scale

1. Understanding Tourette Syndrome is the first step..

What is Tourette syndrome?

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder characterised by involuntary muscle movements and vocalisations, known as tics.

TS doesn't affect cognitive ability, however most people with Tourette's are also diagnosed with co-existing conditions such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

TS is a lifelong condition, but some therapies and medication can be offered to patients to improve tic severity. There is no specific medication for TS, but other medications can be prescribed. Medicating TS is a hard task, as no medication works the same for two people and some medications can exacerbate tics or mental health issues.

TS is not a rare disease! With a prevalence of 1% among the general population, over 78 million people are affected by Tourette Syndrome worldwide.

TS can have a significant impact on the quality of life of individuals, impacting both their working/educational life as well as their social and familial life. However, it is often misdiagnosed or not recognised, or finally diagnosed after a long delay.

The condition is commonly misunderstood, stigmatised, and under-diagnosed due to a general lack of awareness amongst the community, as well as health and education sector workers. The most striking challenge about Tourette Syndrome is the 80% rate of co-existing conditions, with tics often being “just the tip of the ice-berg”, and psychiatric and developmental co-existing conditions creating the greatest disability:

80% of TS sufferers will have multiple diagnoses

60-80% will have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, many have co-existing Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

25-70% will suffer “rage attacks” which may be classified as either Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) or Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED)

40-60% will have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder/other anxiety disorders

35% will have Autistic Spectrum Disorder, of those that don’t reach the criteria for this diagnosis, many will have problems with theory of mind, executive functioning, and social skills (often mood dependent and related to emotional dysregulation)

30% will have Bipolar Spectrum Disorders

25% will suffer Major Depressive Disorder

65% will suffer Sleep Disorders

40% will suffer of co-existing chronic physical health conditions

40-50% will suffer significant learning disorders

A significant proportion suffer Sensory Processing Disorders

Please support us today with your donation and sharing our message with your social networks.
Tourette Syndrome (English) https://youtu.be/pPu4xGqj9rs
Tourette Syndrom (German/Deutsch) https://youtu.be/0T3fm66mKAg
Sindrome di Tourette (Italian/Italiano) https://youtu.be/5ueW7ss4xx4
Le syndrome de Gilles de la Tourette (French/:Français https://youtu.be/FBYZR5H49Tc
Thank you! Your TTAG team

2. Membership for Patient Organisations, Medical professionals, Researchers, Benefactors will open soon. Expression of interest can be expressed to: [email redacted].  

Our website www.ticsandtourette.org will go live soon and you will be able to read about the different membership opportunities.

3. We also welcome more Patient Associations from across the world and more volunteers. Are you passionate to make a difference and would like to join a highly motivated and inclusive team? Please email us to [email redacted] and we can start a conversation.

What is the team’s capabilities to form and run TTAG?
Our team consists of volunteers, all of them working for many years for Tourette Syndrome (TS) Patient Associations and other TS advocacy, medical and research groups. Team members have a wealth of professional experience, many of us also have personal/ lived experience with TS. Although this is the start-up of a new global umbrella organisation, our knowledge about Tics and Tourette Syndrome is very comprehensive and we possess a plethora of knowledge and experience as part of our broader professional life.

TTAG Objectives:

To promote TS awareness and information on a global level, promoting evidence-based treatment and supporting the efforts of its members throughout the world, in an effort to combat ignorance, stigma and intolerance with regard to TS.
To establish and promote an exchange of information, experience, best practices and experts throughout the world in order to improve the lives of people with TS.
To develop relationships and exchange information with other relevant international and/or global organisations with similar aims.
To represent those concerned to all international institutions and liaise with other Non-Governmental Organisations sharing similar aims and objectives.
To promote TS awareness and information on a global level, promoting evidence-based treatment and supporting the efforts of its members throughout the world, combating ignorance, stigma and intolerance with regard to TS.
To support for, and participation in, national and international scientific research and surveys with particular emphasis on early diagnosis and intervention.
To achieve these goals, the Association shall become a knowledge centre on the subject of funds, rules and regulations, gathering, disseminating and making this information available to its members. As an information centre, the Association shall encourage discussion, opinion forming, and public debate in the area of treatment for Tics and Tourette Syndrome as a neuropsychiatric disorder.
TTAG shall raise the necessary funds to support its aims and objectives.
With your support we can officially start-up this important international organisation engaging experts and leadership from different Tourette Syndrome Patient Organisations, Health, Science, Business, Marketing and other relevant sectors from all over the world, with the aim of improving the care of TS patients, from the diagnosis to the therapy and global management of the condition.