THERE will be a lot of activity this Saturday to mark World Disability Day, including from Newcastle Lions Club.
It has chosen to raise awareness of Tourette's Syndrome, and will distribute free copies of a book about the condition to schools in the area.
The book, I Can't Make It Stop, My Diary on Living with Tourette's Syndrome, is written by 10-year-old Lucy-Marie Phillips from Wales.
World Disability Day, said a Newcastle Lions spokesman, provides "an opportunity for each of us to stop and think about our family members, neighbours or friends who could be blind or have a physical or a mental disability".
"It also presents us with the opportunity to raise awareness of conditions that we may have been previously unaware of, including neurodiverse needs," said the spokesman.
"For the parents of children who have neurodiverse needs, such as Tourette's Syndrome, they face the challenge of helping their child, and trying to cope with social misunderstandings around the condition.
"Another word for this is 'tics'. Tics are sudden non-rhythmic repetitive movements or vocalisations. Tics are not purposeful and are generally experienced as involuntary."
I Can't Make It Stop, My Diary on Living with Tourette's Syndrome was reviewed by teachers in the Newcastle area who felt it was suitable and an appropriate way to raise awareness among children.
The Lions Club approached SuperValu in Newcastle which has provided £400 sponsorship to fund the purchase of 50 copies of the book.
SEN teachers in the area have been invited to receive copies for their schools and to hear from Tourette's Support NI. One of the support group's goals is to raise awareness in both primary and post-primary schools of how children and teachers should react to a child who experiences tics in the classroom, by reassuring the child "that it's OK".
