Post published on Bluesky on 15 Sep 2025 10:32

Abstract

Increasingly, people include Tourette's alongside autism and ADHD in lists of conditions fitting under the neurodiversity umbrella. In this study, we take a step beyond mere discursive inclusion. We critically examine whether Tourette's can also find a space in the neurodiversity movement in a more theoretical and political sense. Do Tourettic lived experience sufficiently match with the aims and methods of the movement which has been historically built on autistic experiences? We engaged in a back-and-forth dialogue between lived experiences of six Tourettic adolescents (age 14–17) and existing discussions in neurodiversity studies. The empirical data stem from an in-depth interview study, reanalyzed through the lens of the current research question. Three themes emerged (1) the (in)visibility of tics and the role of onlookers in experiencing Tourette's, (2) negative aspects of tics and desiring Tourette's to disappear and (3) benefits and complexities of establishing Tourettic community. Key insights of the autism-centered neurodiversity movement (camouflaging, socially embedded take on disability, value of community building) prove helpful in theorizing Tourette's. Other Tourettic experiences fit less well (Tourette's as visible disability, inherent downsides of tics including distraction and pain, complexity of community building given suggestibility of tics). We argue the neurodiversity movement cannot expand its scope without actively making space for the lived experiences and demands of new constituent groups such as Tourettic people. Among others, a reconsideration of strong anti-cure positions is needed and previous writings regarding the inclusion of chronic illnesses in the disability movement provide helpful insights here. Lay Abstract When people list conditions that fit under the neurodiversity umbrella, they often mention Tourette syndrome. Much of what is written about neurodiversity though, stems from autistic experiences. Therefore, we examine in this study to what extent the neurodiversity movement's ideas match well with the experiences of people with Tourette's. Concretely, we analyzed six interviews with Tourettic youth (14–17 years). Three themes were important. First, more than autism, Tourette is a fairly visible condition and the role of onlookers matters a lot. Second, tics can also have negative aspects, in and of themselves. This is irrespective of the social context and includes experiences of pain and distraction. Lastly, people find support among other Tourettic people, but building community is also difficult as people tend to take over each other's tics. We discuss how important insights from the autistic-led neurodiversity literature are also helpful to think about Tourette's. This includes concepts such as camouflaging, the role of social and environmental contexts in shaping disability and the value of community building. But we also note important points of contrasts with dominant ideas in the neurodiversity literature. Most notably, tics have certain inherently negative aspects that make people want to wish those tics away. This leads us to call on the neurodiversity movement to deal carefully with the actual experiences and demands that potential new groups in the movement might hold, including a reconsideration of strict anti-cure positions.