Lauren, a Student Support Assistant at Treloar College, is preparing for an extraordinary opportunity that will take her advocacy work to an international stage. She has been selected for the Tourette’s Association of America Youth Ambassadors Rising Leaders Program, a prestigious initiative that trains young leaders to promote understanding and tolerance of Tourette Syndrome (TS).
Next March, Lauren will travel to Washington, D.C., for intensive leadership training before heading to Capitol Hill to meet members of Congress. Her mission: to raise awareness of TS and advocate for improved support for individuals and families affected by the condition.
Lauren’s passion for advocacy began after her own diagnosis at 17. “I’d experienced tics for over a decade, but they worsened after a traumatic event,” she explains. A turning point came during an international exchange in Finland, where she met others with TS for the first time.
“It was freeing to be around people who just get it. That kickstarted my passion for advocacy.”
Since then, Lauren has spoken at schools and colleges, represented Tourette’s Action on the National Neurodiversity Youth Council, and delivered talks at international events—including a pharmaceutical conference in Belgium. She also visited Auschwitz as part of a program exploring discrimination and minority voices.
Her upcoming trip to the U.S. will build on these experiences. “The training will help me take my advocacy and public speaking to the next level,” says Lauren.
“Meeting members of Congress is such a wild opportunity. To advocate on a global scale is very exciting.”
Lauren’s journey reflects Treloar’s commitment to empowering staff to grow and lead. “I want to show our students that having a disability doesn’t limit your potential,” she says. “You can achieve incredible things.”