A teenager with Tourette's Syndrome who has such severe physical tics he once gave himself concussion is trying to pursue his dream career in the music industry.
Josh, a 17 year-old who lives in Wirral, took part in a new TV documentary focusing on how people with Tourette’s can become more accepted in the workplace. Entitled The Teacher with Tourette’s, the Channel 5 programme is presented by Natalie Davidson, who teaches at a Birmingham school.
Natalie is the only teacher in the UK with coprolalia, a rare form of Tourette Syndrome that causes her to swear. In the documentary, she visited Josh, who has extreme physical tics.
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Josh, who lives with his mum Joanne, said: “Sometimes I’d hit myself against the wall. I gave myself a concussion once. I can’t stop myself, I have to do it.”
Joanne said: “As a family we’ve lived through it for a long time. We’ve had to develop our own strategies to get through it.”
Josh explained in the programme that he produced his own music, and would like to work in the industry. However, he admitted he was anxious about applying for any work due to his tics.
Josh said: “I’m scared of walking into a job interview and start ticcing like mad. There’s no point in trying. Especially in a shop or something, stacking shelves and swearing at customers. It’s painful.”
His mum Joanne added: “We don’t worry about his ability to go places in life. He’s got a very fixed idea of what he wants to do with his life. We just worry that the rest of the world isn’t ready to accept him for what he is to enable him to get that.”
When Natlie spoke to Josh about his worries, she argued that he didn’t need to blame himself for his difficulties. She said: “You have a neurological condition which causes this. You're not annoying.
She added: "There’s ways for everyone else to get around that, and it’s not by you being sorry that you’re being annoying or disruptive. Accept that bit of you."
In the documentary, Natalie set up some work experience for Josh at Sugar House recording studio in St Helen’s. This involved working on music from local singer Jamie Wodding with producers Ady Hall and Lee McCarthy.
Despite Josh initially suffering from tics in the studio due to his nerves, the producers were impressed by Josh’s desire to learn. Ady said: “I don’t think he’ll have any problems doing what he wants to do.” Lee added: “We’d definitely have him back, he was really good.”
Joanne said the work experience was a “real milestone” for her son. Commenting on his day in the studio, Josh said: “I felt out of depth at first. But then I realised they were normal blokes, normal people.”
He added: “I’m proud that I did it. They laughed with me which made me feel welcome. It made me feel hopeful that this career path is open to someone like me.”
In the documentary, Natalie speaks about her own experiences and with other people with Tourette’s, including a bar worker. The Teacher with Tourette's will premiere on Channel 5 on May 14 at 10pm.
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