Has anyone done any class training for any persons with Terets Syndrome. Someone has asked if we can teach someone martial arts with Terets Syndrome to help boost morale and confidence. I have never had to teach anyone with this syndrome and would appreciate any and all feedback>
Tourette's syndrome is a tic (involuntary movement) disorder that is most famous for its 'colorful verbal outbursts'. There should be little or no difficulty including a student with this condition as long as" 1.) The other class members can ignore the occasional profanity 2.) There is understanding that occasional involuntary movements (tics, grimaces, twitches) will occur. Most people with Tourrette's are cognitively normal. With focus, they can even control to a degree the involuntary actions. This may be difficult with a young group, but other than that, it should be very achievable. Matt
Very good article here written by a gentleman who has TS and makes mention of the benefits of training in the Martial Arts for TS. Living with and Managing Tourette Syndrome
Our Sensei would take on people with a variety of physical and psychological conditions, including TS, schizophrenia, depression, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress (military) etc. MA helped them all by giving them focus and dignity. It was incredible to see guys who had 'form' for GBH etc. working with them in a patient and empathetic way. Everyone benefits and I would encourage any dojo with reservations to consider taking on such students. To see someone who could not originally co-ordinate their limbs (and who often drifted off into other worlds) managing a Blue Belt grading is worth more IMHO than a score of 'ordinary' folk gaining a Black Belt.
We have a very important member of our staff at my husband's company who has Tourette's. The only thing we have ever had to do was make sure that everyone knows that the tics are involuntary and the occasional outbursts are not personal. His cognitive skills, concentration levels, etc. are all perfectly normal. So besides letting those that will train with him know so they are understanding, I don't think teaching the student will be any different than any other student.
Thank you very much for the link KC. Someone in the family was recently diagnosed with TS. The article will be helpful.
