Mother calls for understanding after son shunned at London, Ont., park over Tourette syndrome tics

A London, Ont., mother is calling for more understanding after her son, who has Tourette syndrome and often swears when he tics, was shunned at a local park earlier this month.

Lexington Perrier, 13, often has tics when he's excited, and on that Sunday at Lorne Park in east London, he swore within earshot of a couple of women who were there with their children.

Tourette syndrome is a nervous system condition that can cause people to have the tics — sudden, brief, intermittent spasm-like movements, twitches or sounds. 

You kind of have to put on your mama bear shield, and go out there and advocate for your child.- Stephanie de la Celle, mother of 3 children who have Tourette syndrome

"I started swearing more and then she called us out," said Lexington, who was at the park with his brothers and tried to explain his disability to one of the women.

"She's like, 'Yeah, I'm sure you do. I'm going to post this kid on Facebook so his parents can come and get him,'" Lexington recalled.

That's when Perrier left to get his mom, who then returned to the park to talk to the women.

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"I said, 'I'm here now,'" said Perrier's mother, Stephanie de la Celle, who has six children, three of them with Tourette syndrome.

"'I just wanted to let you know that he does have a severe form of Tourette syndrome. I apologize if he said or did anything inappropriate, but please know he has absolutely no control over it,'" de la Celle said she told the women.

Raising awareness is all you can do, she added.

Reached by CBC London, Tourette Canada's executive director, Lisa McCoy, said she was saddened to hear about the incident involving Lexington. 

Tolerance and understanding are essential in order to reduce stigma and enable people living with this challenging neurological condition to live happy and fulfilling lives, free of cruelty and discrimination.- Lisa McCoy, Tourette Canada

"Unfortunately, this is an all-too-common occurrence for the roughly 1 in 100 people living with Tourette syndrome in Canada," McCoy said in an email. "One of the greatest challenges they face is a lack of awareness and understanding. Tics are the most prominent characteristic associated with Tourette syndrome. ... Approximately 10 per cent of people living with Tourette syndrome have coprolalia, which is a complex vocal tic that causes the person affected, to utter obscenities or socially taboo phrases.

"As this is not within the individual's ability to control, tolerance and understanding are essential in order to reduce stigma and enable people living with this challenging neurological condition to live happy and fulfilling lives, free of cruelty and discrimination." 

'Advocate for your child'

De la Celle said there's "a lot of misunderstanding around Tourette's, so you kind of have to put on your mama bear shield, and go out there and advocate for your child."

People don't understand how complex and difficult it is to live with Tourette, she said. "Its gestures, its movements, there's self-harming. He punches himself," she said about Lexington.

Her son is attending classes remotely because his tics have become too disruptive. But working virtually has its challenges too.

"He'll go on camera and give the middle finger. He'll tell the whole class off. He'll respond in the group chats with tics," his mother said.

De la Celle is familiar with explaining her son's disability to people, but is disheartened when that's not enough.

"My biggest thing as a mom is the disappointment to see the lack of support from adults.

"The children are the most accepting, understanding and compassionate and empathetic ones," she said.

"Please don't lead with judgment, but with kindness. You never know somebody's story."