Sewickley Series: Speaker to Discuss Tourette Syndrome

It is estimated that 200,000 Americans have the most severe form of Tourette syndrome, and as many as one in 100 exhibit milder and less complex symptoms, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at age 9, inclusion speaker Marc Elliot will present his talk, "What Makes You Tic?" on Thursday, Sept. 20 at Sewickley Academy. He is the first Sewickley Series speaker of the 2012-13 school year.

Two assemblies are planned for 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in Rea Auditorium and are free and open to the public.

The focus of Elliot's talk is tolerance. He will expound on his own disabilities and how people have treated him because of Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics.

Through humor, anecdotes and fundamental lessons of tolerance, he will encourage students and other audience members to examine and rethink the ways in which they make assumptions about others who are different from themselves.

"What Makes You Tic?," also the title of Elliot's new book, will be on sale from Penguin Bookshop in the Rea auditorium lobby throughout the two assembly session.

For more information and to register for this event, click here.

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Information provided by Sewickley Academy.