By Nicole June
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – 13-year-old DJ Grubbs leads an active life. He is a deputy black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a student, and an aspiring rapper/songwriter. He helps younger kids practice martial arts and attends a summer camp every year with his friends.
Since the age of four, however, DJ and his family have struggled to convince others to accept another side of DJ: his Tourette Syndrome (TS).
DJ’s mother, Roxie Ferrell, said DJ was diagnosed nine years ago after an attentive pre-kindergarten teacher noticed abnormal behavior. The teacher said DJ was blinking his eyes excessively, rolling his shoulders, and grunting and suggested Ferrell take him to the doctor.
“The doctor said he had TS. At that point I had only heard of it in movies,” Ferrell said.
Along with TS, DJ was also diagnosed with ADHD, OCD, and general anxiety disorder.
Ferrell has done her best throughout DJ’s childhood to give him the same opportunities as others.
“The issue is not what he can’t do, it’s what other people can tolerate,” she said.
DJ’s syndrome is characterized by physical and verbal tics that he cannot control. These include certain phrases (sometimes swearing), grunting, blinking, punching, animal noises, stuttering, and head jerks.
When DJ is nervous, excited, or upset, the tics become more pronounced.
As a teacher at a private school, DJ’s mother has found it difficult to understand why many of his public school teachers have not been able to accept his condition. She said teachers and students alike have treated DJ poorly throughout the years, and she hopes this can change.
Her message to the rest of the world? Just ignore it.
“He has no ability to control it. If he has a tic in your class, you’re just going to have to go about your business. It’s more uncomfortable for him than it is for anyone else,” Ferrell said. “If a person sneezes, you’re not going to make a huge deal about it. You cannot hold it back. They (his tics) come out violently if he holds it back.”
DJ’s message for the public is simple as well. “I want them to know that I can’t help it,” he said.
He also wants others to know that they can be open with him about his TS and ask questions.
“It’s their decision whether they decide to listen or not,” he said.
DJ hopes that one day his disorder can receive the same awareness and acceptance as other syndromes and disabilities, such as autism and epilepsy. He wants kids like him to have the opportunity to experience a productive and fulfilling life.
“There is a lot of stuff that I can do, but I’m not as capable of doing it because of my TS,” DJ said.
Despite constant bullying at school, DJ has found creative outlets to express himself. He is accomplished in the martial arts and helps younger children in his classes.
DJ also practices his rap skills in his spare time and hopes to someday become a professional rapper/songwriter.
His mother says she’s ok with whatever DJ grows up to be, just as long as he’s happy and accepted.
“I want him to be a happy person. There is no such thing as normal. Whatever he does, I just want him to be comfortable in his own skin.”
Tourette Syndrome Facts (tourette.org)
• Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that becomes evident in early childhood or adolescence. –It is part of the spectrum of Tic Disorders and is characterized by motor and vocal tics.
• Tourette Syndrome and other Tic Disorders are not rare. The current estimates are that 1 out of every 160 children between the ages of 5-17 in the United States has TS and that 1 out of every 100 children has TS or another Tic Disorder.
• Some Tic Disorders may be transient, while others will persist into adolescence and adulthood.
• It is common for people with Tourette Syndrome to be affected by another co-occurring condition.
• Some co-occurring conditions are Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
• There is no cure for Tourette Syndrome, but thanks to years of dedicated research, there are various treatment options.
For more information about TS, visit the following:
https://www.tourette.org/
http://www.njcts.org/tsparents/20-facts-about-tourette-syndrome-you-may-or-may-not-know