Welcome

Navigating this Site

Use the navigation bar at the top of each page to get to the main menu for each section of the web site. Clicking on “Disorders” will take you to a menu of disorders discussed on this site. From there, click on the name of the disorder to get to a listing of all files and articles on that topic. Click on “Behavior” to get to a listing of the many files and articles dealing with... (more...)

Of Note

Join me at the Tourette Syndrome Conference in Atlanta!

The Brad Cohen Tourette Foundation is hosting a conference in Atlanta on February 8, 2014. The theme is “Breaking Down the Barriers.” Speakers include Dr. James Leckman of the Yale Child Study Center, Dr. Douglas Woods of  Texas A&M University, Brad Cohen (teacher and author of “Front of the Class”), Sheryl Pruitt of Parkaire Consultants, and yours truly. It’s a great opportunity to... (more...)

News & Updates

Tourette Syndrome in secondary schools: the real picture

A press release from the University of Nottingham about some new research on Tourette Syndrome that seems wholly consistent with what I’ve observed over the past 2+ decades: Secondary school can be a stressful enough time for any teenager, but for those living with Tourette Syndrome (TS) their neurological condition can present a whole new set of challenges. Now a study led by researchers at The University of Nottingham has given a unique insight into the impact of TS on secondary education... (more...)

Join me at the Tourette Syndrome Conference in Atlanta!

The Brad Cohen Tourette Foundation is hosting a conference in Atlanta on February 8, 2014. The theme is “Breaking Down the Barriers.” Speakers include Dr. James Leckman of the Yale Child Study Center, Dr. Douglas Woods of  Texas A&M University, Brad Cohen (teacher and author of “Front of the Class”), Sheryl Pruitt of Parkaire Consultants, and yours truly. It’s a great opportunity to learn about TS and its educational and behavioral impact. More information about the conference is available... (more...)

Make More Effective Use of Praise

Back in 2002, I wrote up some simple pointers for educators and parents in “Hone Your Skills When Using Reinforcers and Reprimands,” an article you can find in the Behavior section of this site. Over a decade later, new research suggests that it is time to refine or tweak that advice.  It seems that praising the child instead of the behavior may actually backfire for students with low self-esteem. You can read more about the new research and its implications for us in the Behavior section,... (more...)