How a teacher with Tourette syndrome did the impossible and became the best in his field (10 photos)

He was bullied at school, looked back at on the street, his expelled from any public places and even his father was ashamed of his own son. Brad Cohen has been through a lot, but he's gone through it all to be the one who wanted.





Even when Brad was a teenager, he set himself the goal of becoming teacher. But how can a man who constantly jerks his head and makes sounds similar to barking, to teach young children? Almost any I would put an end to it, and the doctors would recommend leaving the house less often, so as not to be bullied, because Tourette's syndrome is not treated and practically does not stop.

Brad Cohen became a teacher, he was appointed administrator schools, he founded a fund to help people with Tourette's syndrome, he reads motivational lectures and wrote a book. It was based on this book that film "In front of the class."

If you read about this disease, it becomes clear that Cohen succeeded in the impossible.

Tourette's syndrome is a serious disorder of the nervous system. which is accompanied by noticeable motor and auditory tics. Wherein the syndrome does not affect intelligence in any way - people can study well and work. Unfortunately, the syndrome affects the attitude of the patient with others - they prefer to close at home and communicate only with the closest.

Cohen said that it was the disease that became his most severe and a tormenting teacher, from whom there was no escape.



Shot from the film "In front of the class"

And if it wasn't for Ellen's mom, Cohen might have been sent as well. to be homeschooled so that he only interacts with support groups.

Brad Cohen was born in 1973. For a long time they could not put him diagnosis, and his parents separated when he was still a preschooler. psychologist, to to whom Brad's mother turned, he could not say anything intelligible. father infuriated by the behavior of his son, he stated that the boy simply did not have enough disciplines.

Brad's mom sat down for medical reference books, where she found description of Tourette's syndrome. She came with this assumption to her son's doctor and he confirmed the diagnosis. It's strange that he didn't think of it himself, but, It is possible that it was the rarity of the disease.





A serious test for little Brad was the group support. There, he was horrified to see people who simply closed themselves from all over the world. The icing on the cake was a conversation with one of the mothers, who said to Ellen, "I took my son out of the third grade, only to keep your sanity. Do you want advice? Do the same."

They left the group and never returned there. IN That moment 12-year-old Brad told himself that he would never be the same that he will fight. Not with a disease, but with an unfair position people with Tourette syndrome in the community.



Shot from the film "In front of the class"

The boy went to a regular school, where he got not only from classmates, but also from teachers. They shouted at him, called clown. Brad loved to study, despite having difficulty concentrating. To him it took about two or three hours to do what others did in an hour. Cohen did not meet an understanding teacher for all the years of study, and then he decided that in the future will help children, even if they are different from everyone the rest.



But he got lucky when he met the principal in high school - Mr Mayer. Once, after a school concert, the director called Cohen to the stage and began to ask him questions about the syndrome, about how he manifests itself, whether it is treated and, most importantly, whether Brad can control himself. The boy answered all questions.

The hushed hall exploded with applause, and Brad has since ceased to be shy and afraid to talk about his illness.

Just a few words and some explanation, but it's like opened the door to a whole new world. And I realized - someday, Somehow, with or without the syndrome, I will become a teacher.



Cohen graduated from high school in 1992 and entered the university. Interestingly, as soon as Brad himself accepted his syndrome and stopped it shy, then everyone else easily accepted and supported him. However, since strangers was still much more difficult.

For example, somehow they began to kick him out of a cafe, calling drunkard. But students stood up for their classmate, they collectively boycotted the establishment, after which the administrator called Brad with apologies.



With your students

After receiving a red diploma (in the USA it is called First Honor Degree) Brad had to pass another important test - prove that he can be a great teacher.

24 meetings with leaders of 24 schools and 24 rejections. Brad Scarecrow of people. He despaired, because it is not enough to accept yourself - you need to and others accepted you too. The future teacher told himself every day, that it's not a syndrome, but simply that he has not yet met his school. Where he will not be a sick person, but a professional. He traveled all schools in Georgia and everywhere was rejected.

Mountain View School was ranked twenty-fifth. Director He listened carefully to Brad and said that his example would be useful to children. Cohen received second class leadership.



Brad did the right thing by giving students the opportunity to acquaintance to ask any questions about his syndrome. There were many questions and such an extraordinary teacher very quickly became a favorite of second graders. The strength of the teacher was working with difficult children, with whom other teachers could cope, because he, like no one else, knew that means to be different.

One girl was taken from his class because her parents didn't wanted their daughter to study with a "nutty teacher", but she ran away from all lessons, wanting to learn only from Cohen.

Cohen devoted himself to teaching and not only disciplines - he taught students to be themselves, to be kinder and more attentive to others.



Brad with the actors who played him in the film

In 1997, Brad Cohen was named Georgia's top teacher.

In 2005, his book "In front of the class: how a syndrome Tourette has made me the kind of teacher I've never had." The book became very successful. So much so that Cohen was offered write a screenplay. The film was released in 2008 and sincere.

Brad Cohen is not only a teacher. He lectures, directs Foundation for helping children with Tourette's syndrome, organizes for such children summer camp.

He is happily married to his wife Nancy and is raising two boys with her.

An example of a person who did not give up where many would have given up.



With a family