Tracking Turner Town

THE TURNER TOWN PROJECT

A Turner Syndrome and

Nonverbal Learning Disabilities

                                       Awareness Campaign

The Town Town will be going to the Taubman Health Sciences Library located at 1135 E. Catherine St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2038. The library is located next to the University of Michigan Hospital. The exhibit will be available on the 1st floor of the main lobby through May 30, 2012.

    Turner Syndrome (TS), a chromosomal disorder which affects only girls, impacts their growth, causes other life-long medical problems and some degree of Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NLD).  Nonverbal Learning Disabilities can be found in both genders, but the symptoms might be subtle and may often be unrecognized or misdiagnosed.  NLD can lead to problems with motor skills, visual/spatial/organizational/time misperceptions and/or social difficulties.  Little is known about these conditions among the general public.  

    This comprehensive awareness campaign consists of an interactive self-teaching traveling exhibit, “Turner Town,” educational posters and workshop materials.  These include children’s activities, a teen newspaper, pre-school “tot lot,” comparison growth charts/measuring stations, “fast-fact” flip books, “real world” photo collages, a resource guidebook and portable reference/lending library about TS/NLD issues.  The centerpiece of the campaign is “Turner Town,” a collection of miniature dollhouses with individual storyboards in front of each building.  These storyboards depict the everyday challenges of a girl with TS and NLD from birth through her later teenage years.  It also offers possible solutions in overcoming both medical and academic obstacles.  “Turner Town” strives to eliminate any stigmas attached to people who may be dealing with health concerns and/or educational problems.  It is designed to be appealing to all age groups.  For further information and photographs about this project, please visit: http://www.dosomething.org/project/turning-wheels-turner-syndrome-and-nonverbal-learning-disabilities-awareness-campaign.

     The designer/director of this project has received a number of recognitions, including the Girl Scout Gold Award, the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, and the YWCA Western Wayne County Woman of Achievement Award among others.  Reports about Turner Town and its director have been featured as the cover story in the Detroit News “Livonia Neighborhood” section and on the front page of the Livonia Observer.  A more recent photo and article was published under the “local news” heading of the Plymouth Observer.  All or part of “Turner Town” has been displayed in many different settings, including Livonia Civic Center, Sandburg, and Noble Libraries, Dearborn Inn, Finnish Cultural Center (Farmington Hills), Gainsborough Clubhouse (Canton), Logan Elementary School (Ann Arbor) and Akron Children’s Hospital (in Ohio).  In 20l0, “Turner Town” was a special exhibit at the Turner Syndrome Society’s National Conference (at the Hyatt Hotel) in Indianapolis and was later shown at the Detroit Children’s Museum.  In 2011, the “Town” has been seen at the Plymouth District Library, the Redford Township District Library and the Caroline Kennedy Library in Dearborn Heights as well as Dearborn’s Henry Ford Centennial Library.  In addition, “Turner Town School” and a NLD Education Station were set up at the 2011 TSSUS Conference in Buffalo, New York.  More “Town” stops are being scheduled.

    “Turner Town’s” Director, Jennifer Wakenell, has conducted speaking engagements for both adult and youth audiences.  Ms. Wakenell, a graduate student at the University of Michigan, was diagnosed with TS just before entering high-school.  Since her diagnosis, she has done extensive research, attended national conferences in this country and Canada and participated in several TS medical camps.  She has also volunteered to be part of health studies at Stanford University and the National Institute of Health among others.  In addition, she is a current contact for telephone or internet inquiries to the Turner Syndrome Society of the United States.  Ms. Wakenell could possibly be available for future “meet and greet” sessions or sponsoring day seminars.