1. Join an Advocacy Group
Advocacy groups raise awareness for causes such as Tourette's by distributing press releases, organizing events and calling attention to laws passed at the state and federal levels of government. Many advocacy groups are non-profit and appreciate the assistance of volunteers. You can answer phones, speak at panels, attend rallies or participate in races to raise funds. To raise awareness for Tourette's, consider the Tourette's Syndrome Association, the National Alliance on Mental Illness or the National Mental Health Association.
2. Write a Letter to the Editor
A letter to the editor is the perfect way to make your views about Tourette's Syndrome known. To improve your chances of being published, focus either on a personal experience with Tourette's Syndrome or draft a response to a specific article that was recently published.
Make sure that your letter is well written before you send it in. If you have any doubts about your writing abilities, give the letter to your friends to edit. Revise it until you feel good about its contents and then send it in. All newspapers now have an email address especially for letters to the editor, which is the best way to send in your letter.
3. Make Tourette's a Topic of Conversation
Tourette's Syndrome doesn't come up very often in conversation. Share your knowledge and personal experiences with your friends and family. Work to inform people about what Tourette's Syndrome is and how doctors can treat it. Even though national advocacy groups may draw the attention of the newspapers and television stations, many people don't give it a second thought until they meet someone who has been personally affected by it.
4. Right Wrongs Wherever you can
One of the best ways to raise awareness is to confront people who promote negative stereotypes of those with Tourette's Syndrome and tell them the truth about the disorder. This is admittedly not easy. Standing up to someone takes a lot of courage. However, if you don't educate individuals who think, for example, that people with Tourette's Syndrome just yell out obscenities for no good reason, they'll never learn the error of their ways.
