Tourette Association of America Youth Ambassador

Anna Drushler ‘25 was selected as one of this year’s 64 Youth Ambassadors for the Tourette Association of America. She shared her personal story with representatives in Washington, D.C. during the Association’s National Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on March 6, 2024 and advocated for public policies and services for people affected by Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders.

"What it means for me to be a youth ambassador is to educate, spread awareness, and bring an end to misinformation. I'm so glad I get the opportunity to educate people on Tourette Syndrome and share my experiences. I can't wait to be able to teach people the truth about this disorder," said Drushler.

An estimated 1 in 50 school-aged children in the United States has Tourette Syndrome (TS) or a persistent Tic Disorder, which causes them to make sudden uncontrollable movements and sounds called tics. TS is a lifelong condition affecting all races, ethnicities, and genders. Due to the complexities of the disorder, 50% of individuals are going undiagnosed. In addition, many children, parents, teachers and even physicians don’t fully understand TS, which can lead to bullying, a lack of community support, an improper diagnosis and a host of other issues that impair the quality of life for someone with TS.

Anna completed a comprehensive training and joined a network of over 1,000 Youth Ambassadors and their adult team members to learn how to speak publicly about the often-misunderstood disorder. In addition to the training, they represented their state in the Association’s National Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. where close to 150 congressional meetings took place to raise awareness for the most pressing issues facing the community.

In addition, she will help to educate her peers and local community on how to promote understanding and social acceptance of TS and its symptoms through presentations at schools, clubs and community centers.

“Youth Ambassadors for the TAA have a significant impact on awareness efforts in their local communities,” said Amanda Talty, President and CEO of the Tourette Association of America “Their efforts not only educate others about the disorder but are a bridge to reaching other individuals who feel isolated to know they are not alone.”

Since the Youth Ambassador Program was launched in 2002; it has grown to consist of over 500 dedicated teens who have completed more than 1,000 activities including presentations, print and TV media interviews, and training other Youth Ambassadors to reach more than 5.5 million people through their combined efforts.

For more information about the Youth Ambassador program, visit www.tourette.org

We are proud of your accomplishments, Anna, and look forward to all you have to share.

Pictured in front of the Capital: sister Amelia, Anna and their father, Al Drushler.