Brad Cohen and Camp Twitch and Shout hit CNN Front Page Website and Health Minute
Monday, July 27th, 2009Be sure to check out both the video above and the article link below on Camp Twitch and Shout and Brad Cohen. Again, we see that despite a child having Tourette Syndrome, they can still find success!
You can READ THE RELATED CNN STORY BY CLICKING HERE and learning more about the camp!
Also check out www.camptwitchandshout.com to learn more. We will be having this camp again during the summer of 2010. Dates have not been announced yet.
You can always find Brad’s book and movie Front of the Class to use as a resource in your homes and schools. Call your local libraries and tell them to order them now for your community.
Cheers
Brad
FREEDOM!
Saturday, July 4th, 2009
As we celebrate July 4th in the United States and think about our freedoms, it made me think about people I have been hearing from. Some have Tourette Syndrome, others have disabilities or weaknesses in life that cause challenges to them daily. Some of these challenges others notice while some are challenges that are on the inside.
How can we use our freedoms to help our situations?
1) Freedom of Speech:
I have always believed in being up front and honest about living with Tourette Syndrome. I have learned that educating others about why I make funny noises and weird faces makes my life easier and eases their concerns about why I’m doing what I do.
The hardest thing about living with TS is ignorance. It is the people that don’t know and don’t want to know about TS that make my life difficult. But once people know, then they can make the decision about how they want to handle the situation.
There are many movies and books like Front of the Class that can help children articulate to others about their situation.
How will you use your freedom of speech?
2) Freedom of the Press
In my life, the press has often been a vehicle to share my story. Yes, we know about the book and movie, but also in the form of newspapers, magazines, newsletters, Internet websites, news shows on TV and others. If it was my story or someone else’s story, education was happening. It is important to share both educational pieces as well as success stories. People need to know that they are not alone. The press and Internet has helped us in our cause.
How can you use the press to help share your story?
3) Freedom of Choice
It is important for you to choose successful situations. It may be a school, groups of friends, religious activities, or where to live. Success breeds success. So please put yourself in a win-win situation to help you and your family move forward.
What will your next choice be?
4) Freedom of Opportunity
Always remember that hope is your friend. Know you are not alone. Understand that there are others out there that are dealing with or having dealt with your situation before. Find the support you need in them.
Give yourself a chance to try new things and enjoy the things you have always done. Once you’ve figured that out, then excel at it. Celebrate your success. Then share that success with others as you pay it forward. Give others the same opportunities you have been given and the feelings you will receive can never be replaced.
What opportunities are you ready to embrace?
As Martin Luther King said “Let Freedom Ring!” I add to that “Let Freedom Ring Loud and Proud!”
Cheers
Brad
Camp Twitch and Shout Featured on CNN
Saturday, June 13th, 2009Camp Twitch and Shout and Brad were featured on CNN on June 13, 2009.
Learn more about Camp Twitch and Shout at www.camptwitchandshout.com
Cheers, Brad
What’s The BIG Deal?
Friday, May 29th, 2009
I received an email from a parent of a child with Tourette Syndrome which hits on a huge issue: What’s the big deal?
Here is the letter:
My 9-year-old child was having (in addition to his usual tics) a pretty severe episode of eye tics (rubbing, rolling and blinking) that had been going on for a couple of weeks. His Dad and I were wondering how in the world he could see enough to get anything done!
I asked him one day how things were going in school – I told him that I noticed that he was having a lot of eye tics and that I just wanted to make sure he could see enough to get his work done and learn what he needed to learn.
His response was “I can still hear!”
And that was that – he ran off to play …… his eye tics, as severe as there were, never seemed to phase him – it was as if he was saying that it did not matter if his eyes were ticcing a lot, as long as he could still hear he was cool – always looking on the bright side!!
I hope that he keeps that positive attitude and wonder what as a parent I can do to help him.
I love this story because it’s a reminder of the resilience that children have no matter what issue that is placed in front of them.
Growing up with TS, I always knew what my “issues” were, but what I quickly noticed was that my “issues” were different then the “issues” my parents, teachers and the public was having. Overall, a child with TS, or any other disability, quickly learns to move on. In this case, the child has severe eye tics and what looks like a huge obstacle in life to the parent, but it wasn’t even an issue to the child. In matter of fact, the child more or less stated that things could be worse and at least he has his hearing.
What a great lesson in life! What is the big deal? You see, there is no big deal for the child because they figured it out. They learned to move forward despite their challenges. But parents want to be parents and protect their child and make sure everything is OK. Parents, continue to do this, but at the same time, give your child the benefit of the doubt.
So, what can parents do for their child? Support them, love them, let them know that you are there for them. And maybe most importantly in this situation, LISTEN
to them. This child stated loud and clear that he is fine and didn’t need their parents help at this time.
The lesson we take away is that children “figure it out and make it work.” Being in the classroom, I’ve had the opportunity to see my students do amazing things. Parents, be careful not to enable your child too much. Allow them to be problem solvers and figure things out for themselves rather than always catching them before they fall. Communication is the key.
The other big idea that the parent realized was about a positive attitude. As I wrote in Front of the Class it is important for children to keep that positive attitude. This is the perfect example of how a positive attitude allowed the child to move forward, instead of holding him back.
Thanks for sharing this conversation with our readers. As you can see, children with special needs just want to be treated like everyone else………even if they can’t see perfectly.
Cheers
Brad
Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month May 15th – June 15th
Thursday, May 14th, 2009
What can you do?:
1) If you know a child who will benefit from attending Camp Twitch and Shout, have them visit our website to learn more about the camp. May 31st – June 5th, in the Atlanta, Georgia area. This 1 week overnight camp for kids could be the perfect fit. Accepting applications from children both in Georgia and outside Georgia. Click here to learn more!
3) Watch a movie to learn more about TS and how it affects children and families.
4) Make a donation to the Tourette Syndrome Association in your area.
Thanks for your support. Education is the key and just educating one more person about Tourette syndrome will make the world a better place.
Cheers
Brad Cohen, Author of Front of the Class
Living with a Disability and Keeping Your Job
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
Are you having difficulties keeping your job because of your disability? If so, you need to read this BLOG. Having a disability is tough enough in life, but when we enter the workforce, we have to be careful not to allow our problems to become other people’s problems too. This is where you need to take a close look at yourself and how you do things.
See my 5 tips to help you keep your job:
1) FIND THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU
It is important for you to find a job that you are good at doing. If you don’t like being around people, then teaching in a school might not be for you. If you are scared of computers, then working with technology might not be the best fit. But if you are good with money and enjoy math, then the banking industry could be a perfect fit. It is important for you to find a job that matches up with your past experiences and things you enjoy. Search the internet, newspapers, and network asking friends and family members if they know of people looking to hire in your field. Make sure you have a resume ready and be up front and honest about your strengths and how you can add something special to that position. Always dress for success and leave a lasting impression.
2) BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
Once you have that job, it is important to build relationships. Make sure you allow people to have a chance to get to know you. If you want to move up in the company and need more leadership experiences, then find someone who will allow you that opportunity. Get to know everyone you pass in the hallway. Call them by their first name. Find out something special about them. Praise them for the littlest things so they want to be around you more. If they approach you with a smile on their face or they leave you with a smile on their face, then you are doing something right. It is ok to laugh. It is not only important to get to know them, but also open up a little and allow them a chance to get to know you too.
3) BECOME THE EXPERT
Learn as much as you can and become the expert on everything you can in your field. It would be great that anytime someone wants a good idea or wants to learn something they come to you. That shows others that you are valued for your expertise. Share your knowledge with others and offer to help others if they need it. Show them that you are a team player and willing to do whatever it takes for the team to be successful. Next time they want something to get done, let’s hope they think of you to get it done.
4) BE OPEN AND HONEST
I have always believed in being open and honest about living with my disability. It has been a way for me to educate others as well as prove to others that there is more to me than just Tourette Syndrome. I never said to be open and honest about every single thing going on in your life. That would be crazy. But for me it was best to educate others about TS. They wanted to know. They needed to know. And I had a chance to shine because I let them know. My disability is part of who I am and if they accepted me, then they needed to accept my issues that come with my disability also. By me taking the initiative and being open and honest, this made a huge difference in my life because we discussed the elephant in the room. You need to decide if this is the best approach for you. You might start small with your team or people that work directly with you, then open it up on a larger scale.
5) PASSION
I tell my wife that I don’t go to work everyday, I go to school. I love what I do and I do what I love and I believe if you bring that passion to the workplace, then it will only benefit you in the long-run. Give 100% every single day and be excited about what you do. Passion is very contagious. If others see you are passionate about doing your job, they will follow suit. People enjoy being around happy people who enjoy doing their jobs. It is always nice to have a person with passion on the team, because others know that passion produces high expectations, low failure rates, high attendance rates, and an overall positive attitude for the team.
These 5 tips could be the winning combination you have been looking for to help you keep your job. If you have other tips, please share!
Cheers
Brad
Brad Speaks at the State Capitol in Atlanta, GA
Friday, February 27th, 2009Click here to view the article featured in the NeighborNewspaper.
Speaking in front of 1,700 people is nothing new for me, but speaking at the Atlanta Capitol and getting a chance to meet our state leaders was new. The 11th Annual Disability Awareness Day took place on February 25, 2009 and I was invited to be the keynote speaker and share my story with the community. It was another reminder to those who don’t live with a disability to not forget us. Money, education, and awareness is still necessary for those with disabilities.
As I told the legislators, I was honored to be the voice of so many who can’t always speak for themselves. Writing my book and movie, Front of the Class, has given me a chance to speak out for so many. I also explained that I live with Tourette Syndrome not thinking that I have a disability. It is others who look at me and think I can’t do certain things and think I have a disability. This is where education comes into play as we must give everyone a chance to prove they can do it rather than giving up on people too quickly.
When was the last time your advocated for something you believe in? Have you ever spoken to your government officials about something you feel strongly about? What I do know is that everyone has a voice and I hope some day when you feel passionate about a topic, that you have a chance to express your views to help make a difference in your life and the life of others.
Cheers
Brad Meets President George W. Bush
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
President Bush Writes Brad a Letter
Brad and Nancy Meet President Bush and the First Lady
What an amazing experience Nancy and I had as we were invited to the White House one week after the movie aired on CBS. We had a chance to meet President George W. Bush and Laura Bush. They were both very nice. They had not seen the movie yet, but George knew all about me as he screamed out as I approached, “I’m looking for that inspirational elementary school teacher.” I guess he heard the noises I was making! He gave both Nancy and me hugs and then took a picture with us. I’m not real happy about him having his hands all over Nancy, but I’ll get over it!
Cheers
Do You Want To Write To Brad?
Monday, February 2nd, 2009
Write Brad
Did your class watch the movie, Front of the Class? Did your class read the book, Front of the Class? Did a group of teachers from your school read, Front of the Class? Are you a future teacher who read, Front of the Class?
If so, you might be interested in writing Brad Cohen? If you write Brad, he will read it! Brad will also try his hardest to respond to your email. Brad has gotten thousands of emails and wants to communicate with the public. Because Brad continues to teach and travel around the United States, his time is limited.
If your groups wants to communicate with Brad, it is asked that you compile all of your comments and questions into one email. If you’d like to send Brad snail mail, please email him for the best address.
If you want Brad to sign your book, he can either send you a signed copy or you can send him your book with a SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope).
If you are emailing Brad because you are doing a report on Tourette Syndrome or on Brad, please don’t procrastinate and ask Brad to respond in one day to your questions. Brad HIGHLY RECOMMENDS for you to read his book prior to emailing him questions. Many of the questions you will be asking can be found in his book. After you’ve read the book, Brad will be happy to fill in the gaps and clarify anything you want to help you get an “A” or write the best paper possible. This is why Brad wrote the book. He knows he can’t be everywhere all the time and the book/movie helps educate others about his story.
If you want to contact Brad, email him by clicking on this link!
Cheers
Ask Brad: Why did I write the book, Front of the Class?
Thursday, December 25th, 2008
Front of the Class By Brad Cohen
Hallmark Hall of Fame movie Front of the Class- The Brad Cohen Story
As I’ve been going through the numerous email, this question keeps popping up. The reason I wrote Front of the Class was because I knew I needed to share my story with other people as it truly made a difference and changed people’s lives. I knew I could help people in Atlanta, GA and even in St. Louis, MO, but how could I help people in Austin, TX and Seattle, WA or New York, NY? The book was my way of sharing my story. Then it was turned into a Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie.
Here is my list of reasons why I wrote Front of the Class:
- HOPE- I wanted other people who have some sort of disability or weakness to know that they can overcome their challenges and live a successful life. Often parents of a child with a special problem just want to have some sort of hope that their child can grow up and find success.
- SUPPORT-I wanted others with Tourette Syndrome to know that they were not alone. Many times people with TS have never met someone else with TS and they think they are the only one dealing with their issues. And even those who don’t have TS but have other issues in their lives, when I opened up my feelings for others to read and see, they learned that they are not alone.
- RELATIONSHIPS - My story shows how moms and dads react differently to different situations. If another parent can learn from my mother’s support or my father’s mistakes earlier in my life, then I know I’m helping other families and that means a lot. The relationship with my wife is another important aspect as true love can be found even if you are a little different.
- TEACHERS- I like to call it, THE POWER OF ONE, that all it takes is for one teacher to make a difference in the life of a child. Who will that teacher be? YOU? Or next years teacher? I make the challenge for YOU to be that teacher who makes a difference in the life of that child who needs you most right now!
- EDUCATION- Just like my middle school principal called me up in front of all the students to educate them about TS, I hope that others will learn that being up front, open, and honest about their disability does have its advantages. I’m not saying this is perfect for everyone, but for me, it changed my life. There is power in education!
- LESSONS OF LIFE- If I am able to make another person’s life a little bit easier than it was for me, then MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! I didn’t have a role model to look up to. I now know their are many people that children can look up to to say “If Brad can do it, then so can I!”
What lessons did you get out of the book/movie?
