Chances are, you’ve already taught a student with Tourette syndrome — you just didn’t know it. Contrary to popular belief, having Tourette doesn’t equal shouting obscenities. In fact, this neurological condition can manifest itself as sudden movements, sniffing, or throat clearing.
While children with Tourette syndrome have no intellectual deficiencies, they may still struggle at school. Uncontrollable movements can break their concentration, make reading or writing an ordeal, and turn them into a target for bullying.
So, as a teacher, you can’t do nothing. Here’s everything you should know to support students with Tourette.
What Is Tourette Syndrome, and How Does Tourette Syndrome Work?
Tourette syndrome (TS, or just Tourette) is a neurological condition that causes tics — sudden, repeated, unwanted movements or vocal sounds. A person with Tourette has no control over tics.
Important: Tourette is not a mental health condition. It is a genetic disorder affecting the brain.
Researchers still don’t know for certain what causes tics. That said, stress and anxiety are known triggers for tics, and specific physical sensations can also precipitate them. Calming activities, in turn, tend to relieve tics.
Estimates put the prevalence of Tourette at around 0.6% among U.S. children, with half of them likely meeting the criteria but remaining undiagnosed. The condition usually manifests itself when a child is between 5 and 7 years old.
Common symptoms of Tourette syndrome are:
5 Challenges Students with Tourette Face
As a condition, Tourette may lead to self-injury (e.g., if a tic involves punching oneself), but it is a relatively rare occurrence. It doesn’t affect life expectancy, either. In most cases, children and adults with Tourette face challenges because their condition interferes with everyday activities at school or work.
For example, at school, students with Tourette may:
- Struggle to remain focused on the task at hand because they’re trying to control tics
- Skip classes or lose motivation to go to school because they are embarrassed by tics
- Struggle with written assignments because tics interfere with their ability to write
- Require more frequent breaks to manage their symptoms
- Be bullied over their tics
Teaching Children with Tourette Syndrome: 10 Tips
What do you do if you have a student with Tourette in your classroom? The exact answer depends on the student and the context you’re in; there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
That said, these 10 recommendations, as outlined by Tourette Canada, will help you approach the situation the right way:
- Remember that it’s a genetic condition. Students with Tourette are students first. They just happen to have involuntary tics. Remember that students can’t control them.
- Prioritize a calm environment. Stress and anxiety typically exacerbate symptoms. Consider mitigating them by setting up a safe space for relaxation and waiving or extending time limits during tests.
- Discuss the condition. Talk to the student and their parents to find out what could increase symptoms and decide on a mitigation strategy together.
- Lead by example. Don’t draw attention to tics that aren’t disrupting the class. This shows acceptance, which can help prevent bullying and feelings of shame.
- Address handwriting issues (if needed). If Tourette makes it hard for the child to write by hand, replace written assignments with typed ones on a tablet or computer. Having a scribe or providing class notes directly can also be a solution.
- Make accommodations for accompanying conditions. Children with Tourette are at a higher risk of having other conditions like ADHD and OCD. Make sure to discuss how to address them, too.
- Intervene with compassion. Accommodate the child’s needs and provide support where necessary. If you can, teach life-long strategies to help them cope with the condition.
- Discuss the condition with the student. They are the best judge of what they need to manage symptoms, so talk through any possible accommodations with them.
- Talk to parents or caregivers. Remember to highlight the student’s achievements, too. Don’t focus on discussing only their condition or shortcomings.
- Use specialized sources. Besides Tourette Canada, check out materials from the Tourette Association of America (including a dedicated toolkit) and the NHS (UK).
5 Scholarships for Students with Tourette Syndrome
Students with Tourette may struggle to finance their future studies, especially if managing their condition requires expensive medical appointments or counseling. Luckily, these five scholarships are here to support students with disabilities in their academic journey — and that can include students with Tourette.
1. Jack Scura Fund Scholarship
Award: $10,000
Awarded by a New Jersey law firm, the Jack Scura Fund Scholarship helps students with recognized physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities fund their undergraduate or graduate studies. Both incoming and current undergrad and grad students can apply, provided they are or will be attending a New Jersey college or university.
The scholarship is transferred in two installments: half to fund the fall semester and half to cover the fees for the spring semester. It finances only tuition fees, and the firm selects one scholarship recipient every year.
2. Johnson & Johnson Access-Ability Lime Scholarship
Award: $10,000
Lime Connect, an international nonprofit that brings together students and professionals with disabilities, awards a scholarship in partnership with Johnson & Johnson. Available only to Lime Connect network members (sidenote: joining Lime Connect is free), the scholarship covers education costs for students with disabilities who want to build a career in healthcare.
To be eligible for this scholarship, students have to be already enrolled in a STEM or healthcare program at a U.S. university or college. (STEM students have to demonstrate their desire to specialize in healthcare later on.) The scholarship is open to undergraduate, graduate, MBA, and PhD students who are also actively engaged in promoting disability inclusion.
3. VSA Emerging Young Artists Program
Award: $3,000 stipend, participation in activities at the Kennedy Center, artwork featured in an exhibition
The Kennedy Center’s Access/VSA Emerging Young Artists Program is designed to open the doors for young artists with disabilities (ages 16-25). The program is essentially an art competition, with up to five image and video submissions allowed per applicant.
Each year, the program comes with a theme. For example, the 2025-2026 call for submission, We Hold These Truths, focused on how personal truths influence artists’ identities and disabilities.
The jury selects 15 winners among the applicants, whose artwork is then displayed as part of an exhibition that tours the United States. Only U.S. residents are eligible to apply, however.
4. VSA International Young Soloists Competition
Award: $3,000, participation in career-building activities and a live performance at the Kennedy Center
The Access/VSA International Young Musicians Program is another Kennedy Center program designed to promote inclusion of talented musicians with disabilities ages 14-25. Unlike the previous program, however, this one is open to both U.S. and international musicians.
Soloists and bands alike can join the competition, and there are no restrictions on the instrument or genre.
To participate in the competition, applicants have to submit videos of three musical performances (via YouTube or Vimeo links). Winners will travel to the Kennedy Center for a live performance, receive a financial stipend, and participate in in-person or virtual professional development activities.
5. The John Lepping Memorial Scholarship
Award: Up to $5,000
The Lep Foundation for Youth Education is a nonprofit that awards scholarships to students with disabilities residing in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The John Lepping Memorial Scholarship, in particular, is destined to help students pursue college studies despite overwhelming medical costs.
The scholarship is intended to cover the cost of attendance. So, it’s paid directly to the college. To win it, students have to demonstrate their financial need for the scholarship.
In Closing
Having a student with Tourette syndrome in the classroom doesn’t have to be an ordeal. Yes, they may need extra support and attention to accommodate their needs if tics are severe. But in most cases, what they need is a teacher who looks beyond the tics and sees the person they are.
Before you decide on any course of action, make sure to discuss it with the student and their parents or caregivers. Otherwise, you risk going forward with ineffective or proactively harmful solutions.
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