By Diana Beljaars, Swansea University, UK
Tourette syndrome is increasingly seen as neurodivergence, especially by many advocates, activists and academics with Tourette’s. However, neurodiversity theory is mostly based on the autistic experiences and the neurodiversity movement reflects the societal and research priorities of autistic people. Therefore, this paper explores what neurodiversity theory and the movement can do for people with Tourette’s, and what Tourettic experiences can do for the neurodiversity literature and movement.
This is important because the neurodiversity movement is starting to influence how Tourette’s is studied. Also 90% of people with Tourette’s experience co-occurring neurodivergent conditions (including autism and ADHD), and vice versa: tics and other Tourette’s experiences are also reported by people with OCD etc.
The researchers conducted six interviews with youth with Tourette’s (14–17 years). The three main results are:
- Tourette’s is a fairly visible condition and the role of onlookers matters a lot according to the interviewees. The neurodiversity movement should therefore focus on less visible or hidden AND visible disabilities. In turn, neurodiversity theory highlights that more research should be done on less/invisible aspects of Tourette’s.
- Interviewees suggested that tics can have negative consequences such as discomfort and distraction no matter the social context. Whilst for some tics didn’t interfere much with daily life, 5 out of 6 interviewees wished their tics would disappear. The neurodiversity movement should therefore make space for positives AND negative aspects of neurodiversity. The neurodiversity movement’s focus on context does suggest Tourette’s research should focus more on environmental influences on tics.
- Meeting with other people with Tourette’s can be very supportive according to the interviewees, as there’s comfort in shared understanding of rare tic experiences and it reduces feelings of social isolation. However, building community can difficult as it is well known that tics can be taken over, which adds to the burden. The neurodiversity movement should therefore also stimulate building community that accommodates for tic suggestibility. Likewise, neurodiversity theory emphasises the needs for more research on Tourette’s peer interactions and support.
In conclusion, Neurodiversity theory suggests a stronger research focus on camouflaging, a non-individual, socially embedded take on disability and the value of finding connection with other people who tic
Tourette’s inclusion in the neurodiversity movement requires neurodiversity theory to go beyond the social model of disability without requiring it to be seen as pathology, but open to clinical kinds of care. It should also reconsider its strict anti-cure position.
Summary of: Can the Neurodiversity Movement Make Space for Tourette’s? Dialoguing Lived Experiences and Theory
Full citation: Vanaken, G.-J., Mulkers, A., Segers, J., Hens, K., Steyaert, J., & Bervoets, J. (2025). Can the Neurodiversity Movement Make Space for Tourette’s? Dialoguing Lived Experiences and Theory.