Embracing Tourette’s And Tic Disorders

The Neurodiversity (ND) conversation might have started over 20 years ago from within the online Autistic community but its tenet of accepting all kinds of minds is more broadly inclusive. Tic Disorders and Tourette Syndrome are prevalent in the population at a similar rate to Autism but receive fifty times less research attention. It is time to widen our appreciation of neuroinclusion and bring in more narratives from a wider range of minority neurotypes.

Luke Manton is an entrepreneur with Tourette’s. In celebration of International Tourette’s Awareness Day (June 7th), Manton explains his journey from traumatic diagnosis to successful entrepreneurship.

“I was diagnosed with Tourette’s as an adult. I struggled massively with coming to terms with the condition, it turned my life upside down and took everything away from me. I lost my career, my confidence and what felt like my personality. I struggled so much trying to find work, no one would give me a chance. I wanted to do something for me and hope that eventually I could help someone else in my position. So I started Manton Executives. It was slow to start with, I hid behind a corporate façade, with sage green and grey branding and only spoke in emails. but I was convinced to be myself. So I changed my company branding to bright pink, I posted videos online, I spoke to people and the rest is history! I now own a six-figure business, with employees and I will do everything I can to support and build up other ND individuals.”

Manton demonstrates here the skills for which neurodivergent leaders are increasingly famed – resilience, drive, ambition and stewardship. Neurodivergent leaders stereotypically delegate more easily because we are more in tune with our limitations and keen to balance these with diverse colleagues. Neurodivergent traits may lend themselves to core leadership tasks, helping us with some aspects of the role. Neurodivergent leaders hold the proverbial door open for others to follow.

Critically though, neurodivergent traits are not homogeneous. Those with a primary diagnosis of Dyslexia present differently to those with Tourette’s, or Autism, or ADHD. We are not one group and neurominority diagnosis are neither personalities nor exhaustive skill sets. Some neurodiversity inclusion approaches limit the field to one or two core skills, such as Autistic technologists or Dyslexic problem solvers, which sadly fails to incorporate the dynamics of inclusive practice.

Manton expands on this topic:

“I want business leaders to know that no two cases are the same. You cannot preach inclusivity and cherry pick the aspects of the conditions you want. For example, I have Tourette’s, you cannot laugh with me about my tics one minute, then be worried about what I will say in front of your clients. When you fully accept an ND individual, you accept all of them. Conditions are broad. If you are unsure start a conversation, ask!”

Manton, who won an award earlier this year for his achievement as a founder, believes that the business world is making progress in understanding that Neurodiversity means everyone. He sees the widening of the conversation as essential in bringing the full potential to bear.

“As the neurodiversity conversation gets more comprehensive we will see endless ideas as ND people no longer feel forced to keep quiet and hidden, they are free to fully embrace the wonderful ideas their thought process gives them. I think people want to understand a ND perspective more than ever, we are getting there slowly and I cannot wait for it to be celebrated more.”

Neurodiversity and cognitive diversity more broadly has the potential to define the future of work. Whereas the 19^th and 20^th centuries depended on atomisation, routine and standardisation, the 21^st is defined by connectivity, complexity and personalisation. Neurodiversity is messy, with blurred boundaries between minority neurotypes, disability, intersectional adverse impact and determining what is typical. However, learning to work responsively with a wider range of humans is exactly what we all need in business and society at large. Including Tourette’s in the conversation will challenge our assumptions and broaden our horizons.