There has been a massive increase in the amount of hate and ableism towards people with tourettes that is accepted.
It is now considered socially acceptable and seen as ok to mock, "fake claim," and insult people with tourettes. It is seen as ok to harm us, even by other disabled people.
I have had people close to me make a mockery of my disability. People who have said to my face they think tics are cute or said I looked weird. People who have mocked my tics in front of me. People who have made it clear that my struggles are a joke to them.
Tourettes is a real disability. A scary, dangerous disability to live with. Tourettes has hurt people. Tourettes has killed people.
It is not just saying inappropriate words and giggling about it afterwards. I've gotten bruises from tic attacks. I've spent nights laying in bed, with my head surrounded by pillows, unable to do anything other than accept that I'm gonna get hurt and wait for it to be over.
Tourettes is not cute. It's not fun. It's not something to mock.
It is traumatic. It is painful. It is debilitating.
Please, treat it that way.
Stop partaking in minimizing how serious this disability is. Stop allowing people to bully those with tourettes and mock the disability. Stop fake claiming or asking for "proof" that someone is suffering.
This shouldn't be seen as ok. This shouldn't be so commonly accepted.
