Details of Lisburn conference emerge

More details have emerged of Northern Ireland's first-ever Tourette Syndrome conference, to be held in Lisburn next month.
Organiser, Deborah Anderson (left) with supporters at a fundraising event in aid of tghe Tourette Alliance's upcoming first annual conference.Organiser, Deborah Anderson (left) with supporters at a fundraising event in aid of tghe Tourette Alliance's upcoming first annual conference.
Organiser, Deborah Anderson (left) with supporters at a fundraising event in aid of tghe Tourette Alliance's upcoming first annual conference.

The conference will take place at Pond Park Primary School on Friday, August 5 and Saturday, August 6.

Tourette Syndrome affects the education, mental health, social skills and quality of life of an estimated one in 100 children in Northern Ireland and beyond, yet it remains one of the most stigmatized and least understood neurological conditions.

Organized by the newly formed Tourette Alliance via a multinational effort and sponsored by Beechlawn House Hotel, Geoffrey Cherry and Pond Park Primary School, the expert-led conference promises to shatter the myths about having and living with Tourette’s.

The conference, which is free of charge, will include an address from Jaxon Kramer, CADCA, a Tourette Syndrome sufferer whose work in Hollywood and as an advocate has helped fuel awareness about Tourette’s.

It will also feature Dr. Andrea E. Cavanna, MBChB, MD, PhD, as Keynote Speaker as well as a full day educational workshop by author, advocate and teacher trainer Susan Conners.

Hundreds of educators, medical practitioners, advocates, families and individuals with Tourette’s Syndrome will attend the first-of-its-kind gathering in Lisburn.

Aspokesperson said: “At the Conference, you canlearn about the current state of Tourette in Northern Ireland from the most reputable medical experts in the field, hear directly from adult Tourette sufferers who have overcome the condition to become globally respected advocates, watch youth advocates teach other children how to fight back against the stigma and embarrassment that forces so many young people with Tourette to hide from life, learn classroom techniques for teaching children with Tourette and it’s associated conditions . . .”

The Conference will also be host to training for the all new Youth Representative Program for young adults as well as training for Educational Advocacy.

To register for the 1st Annual Tourette Alliance Conference, explore the Tourette Alliance website, or find them on Twitter or Facebook.