[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 114 (Thursday, September 14, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1725]]
              COMMENDING THE TOURETTE SYNDROME ASSOCIATION

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                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2006

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the national 
Tourette Syndrome Association for their hard work to have Tourette 
Syndrome listed as a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities 
Education Act.
  On August 4, 2006 Margaret Spellings, the Secretary of the Department 
of Education, announced the final regulations enforcing Part B of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act which now lists Tourette 
Syndrome in the category of ``Other Health Impaired.'' This new 
classification means that students with Tourette Syndrome will no 
longer find themselves in limbo--knowing that they are legally entitled 
to receive the necessary educational accommodations but unable to point 
to specific language in the law that would protect their rights.
  For years, many students with Tourette Syndrome who sought 
accommodations were labeled as having behavioral or emotional problems 
and not a neurological disorder. This incorrect designation sometimes 
placed students with Tourette Syndrome into classrooms with 
behaviorally or emotionally disturbed children. By including Tourette 
Syndrome in the law, the Department of Education is sending a clear 
message to schools across the country that Tourette Syndrome is a 
neurological disorder. The category is no longer a subject of debate 
and one more hurdle has been cleared for students with Tourette 
Syndrome.
  The Tourette Syndrome Association and its members have been steadfast 
in working with Members of Congress and officials from the U.S. 
Department of Education for this designation in ``Other Health 
Impaired.'' Over the years, they have held hundreds of meetings with 
many of my colleagues in this body and have sent us thousands of 
letters explaining the necessity and value of having Tourette Syndrome 
listed in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This victory 
for the Tourette Syndrome Association and its members has been long 
overdue.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing I would personally like to thank my friend 
Jeremy Scott, the Tourette Syndrome Association's Director of Public 
Policy, for his dedication and leadership to ensuring that Tourette 
Syndrome be added to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 
This accomplishment will positively impact the educational experiences 
of hundreds of thousands of children with Tourette Syndrome.

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