THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MOUL, ADOLPH, BAKER, BARRAR, BEYER, BISHOP, BOBACK, BRENNAN, BROWN, BURNS, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DELOZIER, DeLUCA, DENLINGER, DePASQUALE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, FRANKEL, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GROVE, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HUTCHINSON, KAUFFMAN, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, MAJOR, MANN, MARKOSEK, MARSICO, McCALL, MELIO, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PETRI, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROEBUCK, ROHRER, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SONNEY, STABACK, SWANGER, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WALKO, WANSACZ AND YOUNGBLOOD, MARCH 23, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 23, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing 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 which 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 must learn to

cope with these sudden movements or vocalizations that occur

thousands of times a day, every day; 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

co-occurring 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, Tourette Syndrome is misunderstood and thought to be

a condition of emotional disturbance instead of chemical

biology; and

WHEREAS, Individuals with Tourette Syndrome are often

ostracized by the general public and children are disciplined

for various manifestations of their disability by educators who

do not understand that the child is not in control of his

actions and 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 their students with Tourette Syndrome to be successful

in their education program, however, many schools often resist

or limit services for a number of reasons, but most commonly due

to the full 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 (ADA) to disregard disability in hiring or

promotions and to make accommodations to support their employees

with Tourette Syndrome so the employees can be successful in the

workplace and not be forced to file for disability; and

WHEREAS, The employer can benefit from that success, however,

employers often neglect to hire, promote and make these

accommodations for individuals with Tourette Syndrome; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Tourette Syndrome Association,

Inc., has joined together with the National Tourette Syndrome

Association, Inc., to promote awareness and support improved

education, diagnosis, research and treatment; and

WHEREAS, Understanding this illness will help guarantee hope

for acceptance and a better future for people with Tourette

Syndrome; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

needs of these individuals with neurological impairment and

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

Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and urge all citizens to

support the search for a cure and to assist those individuals

and families who deal with this neurobiological syndrome every

day of their lives.