A life can change with a single word, but only if that word is followed by community. Paul Stevenson joins us to share how late diagnoses of Tourette’s, ADHD, and autism reframed decades of blame and opened a path to strengths, purpose, and international advocacy. We dig into the human story behind the UK box office hit “I Swear,” a film built with radical authenticity: 30 cast members with Tourette’s, a lead who studied the inner experience as much as the outward tics, and a creative team that checked every detail with lived voices.
Paul explains why coprolalia is only one part of Tourette’s and often not the most disabling, and he lays out the real daily costs people don’t see—joint injuries, sleepless nights, and the exhausting pressure of suppression. He draws a clear line between masking and suppression, then shows how both drain energy, strain mental health, and make learning and work harder than they need to be. The fix is simpler than most accessibility plans: change the culture. Replace shushing with curiosity, pair diagnosis with peer support, and adopt strength‑led adjustments that cost nothing and unlock performance.
We also confront a systemic gap that steals childhood learning: years-long delays for assessment and specialist care. Paul argues for early, strength‑based intervention, practical accommodations in the classroom, and managers who start with “What helps you work best?” His approach is open, humble, and deeply pragmatic—apologizing when a tic lands hard, inviting questions to replace fear with understanding, and reminding us that families live this too. By the end, Paul’s journey from isolation to ambassador shows what happens when people are seen for who they are and supported for what they can do.
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