The Tourette Syndrome Association of Massachusetts is an all volunteer, non-profit organization whose mission is to support the needs of families affected by Tourette Syndrome. Our goal is to advocate for individuals with TS, educate the public and professionals about TS, and promote awareness.
Promote advocacy through parent training and support.
Organize educator and medical conferences sponsored by the CDC and National TSA
Support in-service efforts for classrooms presentations by parents or TSA representatives
Sponsor and promote support group meetings
Organize family events for those effected by TS
Media relations and awareness campaigns
Support line available for questions and a compassionate ear
Update website for local and national information and links regarding TS
Solicit funds for support of our organization’s goals
Disseminate information to members, educators, physicians and allied professionals
Cooperate with associated organizations whose objectives are common with us.
Lobby Massachusetts Senators and Representatives yearly at Capitol Hill requesting support for TS issues and appropriations requests.
National Tourette Syndrome Association
Founded in 1972 in Bayside, New York, Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) is the only national voluntary non-profit membership organization in this field. Our mission is to identify the cause of, find the cure for, and control the effects of Tourette Syndrome. We:
Offer resources and referrals to help people and their families cope with the problems that occur with TS
Raise public awareness and counter media stereotypes about TS.
Our membership includes individuals, families, relatives, and medical and allied professionals working in the field.
Tourette Syndrome Association of Massachusetts Board Officers:
Chrissy Joyal, President
Chrissy is the mother of four children. She graduated from Katherine Gibbs in Boston with an Associate Degree in Secretarial Arts Business Technology.
Her oldest son has TS and several co-morbid conditions. She also has a son with OCD and ADHD, and another son with PDD-NOS as well as ADHD and sensory issues.
Growing up she watched her sister dealing with tics both motor and vocal but never knew what it was, just thought it was a quirk. She home schools all four of her children while
volunteering for her church and TSA-MA. She joined the board of directors for TSA-MA in 2006 as Secretary. She coordinates the volunteers throughout MA while manning the TSA-MA phone
line and juggling the numerous questions, concerns, referral requests, and pleas for help. She has also lobbied Capitol Hill in Washington, DC as well as in Massachusetts to help spread Awareness about Tourette Syndrome and TS issues.
She lives in Taunton with her husband, three sons, a daughter, and loveable cats. You can contact her via email at cjoyal@tsa-ma.org.
Liliane Larsen, Vice-Chair and Treasurer
Liliane is a mother of two sons (one who has TS), a stepson, and stepdaughter. Her son, Alex, has become one of our latest Youth Ambassadors in 2009 (see article).
She is a self-employed bookkeeper who graduated from Iona College in New Rochelle, NY and has run her own bookkeeping business since 2001. She is on the Board of Directors for the TSA-MA serving as Treasurer. She has been a volunteer with the TSA-MA since 2005, and we are grateful for her financial expertise and her accomplishments in our board. She lives in Scituate with her husband and four children. You can contact her via email at llarsen@tsa-ma.org.
Directors:
Jeff Swift
Jeff is a father of two children and has TS himself. He is a nurse for Jordan Hospital and his experience brings the clinical perspective so many families benefit from. He is a wealth of information for heath related resources. Since 1998, he has served in various volunteer capacities for the Tourette Syndrome Association of Massachusetts and from 2000 to 2006, he was our chapter president, when he then took on vice-president up to 2010. Currently he has advised and updated the medical contents of the new TSA-MA website. He lives in Plymouth with his wife, two children, and dog. You can contact him via email at pelagicspirit@aol.com.
Ron Goodstein, Technical Support
Ron has been a member of the TSA-MA since 1984, serving in various positions such as treasurer, newsletter editor, and co-president of the chapter in the early 1990s. He established the original TSA-MA website in 1996 and maintained it until 2008 and recently has assisted in the switch of the website to a new server to host the redesigned site. He is an electrical engineer with a Masters Degree in Computer Science and currently lives in South Brookline. You can reach him at rongood@world.std.com.
Judy Storeygard, Education Specialist
Judy has been active in TSA-MA for twenty years, specializing in the educational element of the chapter. She is a mathematics education researcher who focuses on the math learning of students with special needs. She is the mother of two sons; the younger one has TS. Her primary focus has been the educator conferences and recently has assisted in updating the webpage to include links to related educational organizations. You can reach her at jstoreyg@gmail.com
Jayne Costello Goode, Event Planning
Jayne is the mother of two children, a son and a daughter, one whom was diagnosed with TS, OCD and ADHD at the age of 5.
While not formally diagnosed, her other child has exhibited traits of OCD, ADHD and sporadic tics. While never having received
any formal diagnosis, Jayne recalls struggling with verbal and motor tics, "marking" tendencies and ADHD as a child.
An attorney since 1996 and a mediator since 1993, Jayne currently practices law and mediation in Milton, MA with her husband, Steven.
Jayne’s background includes consulting, lobbying, creating and conducting workshops and presentations, grant writing, fundraising,
event planning and working with non-profit agencies. When not enjoying her family or working, Jayne may be found writing
(her work having been published in various newspapers, newsletters and the online magazines ChicGalleria.com and divinecaroline.com)
or appearing in film and web series’ as an actor. You can contact her via email at jcg@goodelawoffice.com.
Volunteers:
Dawn Boisvert Erickson
Dawn is a mother of three sons, two of whom have TS. Since 2002, she has served in various volunteer capacities for our chapter. She has used her experience in media relations to bring public awareness about TS to various media outlets such as local newspapers, magazines, and documentaries. She has done classroom presentations for each of her son’s schools.
She has successfully lobbied Capitol Hill in Washington, DC for the last several years to advocate for TS issues and appropriations.
Her latest project was the redesign of the current TSA-MA website. You can contact her via email at dmerickson84@aol.com.
Karen Paradise-D'Ortenzio, M.ed., Special Education tutor
Karen is available for email support and special education questions. Also anyone living in Metrowest or the greater Boston area can email her for support. dortz1@verizon.net
Toni Saunders, Educational Consultant
Toni is happy to answer questions about laws, special education, and court involved youth toni@tonisaunders.com or via phone: 508-420-4356
Josh Del Viscovo, MS, SpD.D (cand), BCSE
Josh Del Viscovo; An adult with T.S. and other co-morbid conditions associated with the disorder. Josh is a classroom SPED teacher,
but also an adult who continues to fight for equality and knowledge of T.S. jdelviscovo@gmail.com
Support Group Volunteers:
Chrissy Joyal, Taunton Area Family Support Group Leader & Email Support
Chrissy lives in Taunton with her husband, three sons, a daughter, and their loveable cats cjoyal@tsa-ma.org
Ally McIntyre, Adults with TS Support Group
Ally lives in Taunton and is an adult with Tourette Syndrome (508) 406-8463 (cell)
She will be taking a break during November and December 2011. This group meets at the Taunton Library Auditorium (near the Children's Area)
located at 12 Pleasant Street, Taunton, MA from 6PM-7PM. Please check out our events calendar for upcoming events, meetings, or cancellations.
Please call or email one of the support Group leaders to RSVP or for any questions.
Note:
Michael Shaps, Greater Boston TSA Youth Network (GBTSAYN)
Michael lives in Cambridge and has a teenage son with TS
Check out our events calendar for upcoming event/meetings. michaelshaps@comcast.net
Steve & Barbara Johnson, MetroWest TSA and OCD Support / Encouragement Group
They will usually meet the last Monday of each month in Ashland, MA from 7:30-9PM. The next group meeting will be on Monday, December 5, 2011
Check out our events calendar for upcoming events/meetings.
Please contact Steve and Barbara for more information sbddt5@verizon.net.
Email Support Volunteers:
Steve Alexander, NH Area, Email Support & Future Support Group Leader
Steve has an elementary school aged son with TS, is a Volunteer Advocate for the NH Parent Information
Center and is a certified teacher. Helping parents and schools appropriately accommodate students with
TS is of special interest. Steve welcomes parents to contact him if they have questions or are interested in
networking with other TS families in NH. He lives with his wife and son near Nashua, NH. tsparents@gmail.com
Kristi Cromwell, Central Mass area email support
Kristi is a mother of a teenage daughter with TS. She is also a speech-language pathologist and
familiar with the special edcuation process. kcromwell11@yahoo.com
Peer Support:
Susan Weinstein has a 15 year old son with TS that is interested in being a role model for children that are learning how to cope with TS. She and her son are limited to the North Shore area. If you would like to contact Susan, they are availble for 1-2 hours for a couple of weekends. swiseweinstein@gmail.com
Disclaimer
The Tourette Syndrome Association of Massachusetts (TSA-MA) is a chapter of the national Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc. (“TSA”), a New York not for profit corporation. This web site (http://www.tsa-ma.org ) (“Web Site”) is an educational and informational service provided by TSA-MA, with the express condition that users agree to the terms set forth in this User Agreement, as they may be modified from time to time. Your consultation and use of this Web Site constitutes your acknowledgment and acceptance of this User Agreement.
Links from this Web Site
TSA-MA makes no representation, warranty or endorsement, express or implied, as to any of the information, services, products or messages on any other web sites which may be accessed through a link on this Web Site. You acknowledge and agree that TSA-MA has no control over such sites and resources and is not responsible for the availability of such external sites or resources, and does not endorse and is not responsible or liable for any advertising, products, or other materials on or available from such sites or resources. These links are provided for convenience of reference only and are not intended as an endorsement by TSA-MA of the organization or individual operating the web site or a warranty or endorsement of any type regarding the web site or the information, services, products or messages posted on or available from such web site. You further acknowledge and agree that TSA-MA shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such materials or goods available on or through any such site or resource.
Copyright and Trademark
The information on the Web Site, such as text, graphics, logos, button icons, images, audio and video clips, is copyrighted by and proprietary to TSA and TSA-MA. The name and mark, TSA-MA and its attendant logos and taglines, are trademarks of TSA and TSA-MA and may not be used or reproduced without its prior written consent.
TSA-MA does not claim ownership of materials uploaded by users on the Web Site.
Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability
You acknowledge that the information on this Web Site is provided "as is" for general information only. This Web Site does not offer medical advice or recommendations and individuals should not rely on the information posted on this Web Site as a substitute for consultations with qualified health care professionals who are familiar with individual medical conditions and needs. TSA-MA strongly recommends that care and treatment decisions related to Tourette Syndrome and any other medical condition be made in consultation with a patient's physician or other qualified health care professionals who are familiar with the individual's specific health situation.
TSA-MA makes no representations with respect to the information, services, products or messages on this Web Site and specifically disclaims any other warranties, including but not limited to implied or express warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular usage, application or purpose. TSA-MA makes no warranties of any kind regarding the operation of this Web Site, including but not limited to any warranty of accuracy, completeness, currency, reliability, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, or any warranty that these pages, or the server that makes them available, are free of viruses, worms, Trojan horses, other harmful elements or other code that manifest contaminating or destructive properties and such warranties are expressly disclaimed.
In no event shall TSA-MA, TSA, their agents, its suppliers, or any third parties mentioned on this Web Site be liable for any damages (including, without limitation, incidental and consequential damages, personal injury/wrongful death, lost profits, or damages resulting from lost data or business interruption) resulting from the use or inability to use the Web Site or the content based on warranty, contract, tort, or any other legal theory, and whether or not TSA or TSA-MA is advised of the possibility of such damages. Governing Law
The TSA-MA is an unincorporated association located in the United States of America. This Web Site is intended for the exclusive use of residents of the USA. Access to the Site may not be legal by certain persons or in certain countries outside of the USA. If you access this site from outside the United States, you do so at your own risk and are responsible for compliance with the laws of your jurisdiction. This User Agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws of the New York, without resort to its conflict of laws principles. If any provision of this User Agreement is found to be invalid by any court having competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of the User Agreement. You expressly agree that exclusive venue and jurisdiction for any dispute with TSA-MA or relating to your use of this Web Site, is Suffolk County, Massachusetts, and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
