Posts Tagged ‘Brad Cohen’

Today, I had a little girl email me a simple question: How do you live with Tourette syndrome….with all the people saying stuff?

She went on to tell me she received the movie Front of the Class, and it was the best thing she got for Christmas.

It was just a simple reminder that kids are still figuring out the game of life. So with that, I remind everyone what has helped me overcome the challenges of living with Tourette syndrome. I hope these ideas help others move forward to follow their dreams.

1) Keep that positive attitude
2) Focus on your strengths…….show the world what makes you shine
3) Educate everyone who will listen and tell them about Tourette syndrome and the challenges you face
4) Never give up……every time someone tells you that you can’t do something, prove them wrong! Show them not only can you do it, but you can do it better than others
5) Surround yourself with people who believe in you
6) Don’t make excuses, because the first excuse will lead to another, after another, after another
7) Find your passion in life and go for it
8 Last but not least……….Don’t let Tourette syndrome win! Don’t allow any of your weaknesses in life get the best of you!

While we are talking about Tourette Syndrome, you can help support the National Tourette Syndrome Association by clicking on the link below and vote to help them win $1 million in the Chase Community Giving Contest. Spread the word. Each person gets five votes and be sure to place one with TSA. Thanks for the support!

http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/744837

Don’t forget, Front of the Class will be on CBS the evening of February 6, 2010.

You can also learn more about the Brad Cohen Tourette Foundation, Inc at www.bradcohentourettefoundation.com

Cheers, Brad

Camp 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

It’s official, the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Front of the Class, is now available in Hallmark Stores around the country. Get your copy now and see a special “The Making of Front of the Class” section as an extra on the DVD. See behind the scene interviews with the actors and families of those involved in the production.

If your local store doesn’t have the DVD in stock, they will order more for you. This is one movie you don’t want to miss in your collection. And what a great gift to give a parent, student or educator down the road.

ATTENTION TEACHERS The Teacher’s Guide that goes along with the DVD is also ready. This is a great resource to use with your classroom when you discuss Character Education themes like acceptance, perseverance, positive attitude, passion, self-confidence, and much more. You can also have great discussions about bullying in the schools. The Teacher’s Guide is FREE. Click here to get your copy now!The Teacher’s Guide is good for elementary, middle and high school age students. I was involved in the development of the Teacher’s Guide along with the National Tourette Syndrome Association.

Just when you thought you saw it all, there is now a Front of the Class Softball Team.  My softball was so inspired by the movie that they decided to change our team name from Telesource Solutions to Front of the Class.  Thanks to Cary, Neil and the rest of the team for supporting my story.

To date, the team has taken on the theme of the my story about never giving up.  We are 9-1 have have come from behind to win in ever game.  We are the regular season champions and here come the playoffs!

Cheers, Brad

Movieguide Awards

The Movies Nominated

Click here to see pictures from the event: Dominic Scott Kay (pictured), Tom Rickman, Brent Shields, Andy Gottlieb, and Cameron Johann all in attendance repsenting Front of the Class.

We have officially learned that Front of the Class didn’t win the Faith and Freedom Award. That award was given to John Adams and The Medal. But we did win a special award which was not on the program for Outstanding Movie About a Disability. Members of the team got up to speak at the ceremony!

Absolutely!  Sometimes things are made up in movies and sometimes the movie is totally correct.  My friends can verify that both Nancy and I really do love Milli Vanilli.  It is our goal that Milli Vanilli will make a comeback after the premiere of Front of the Class.

Do you like Milli Vanilli or are we the last two genuine Milli Vanilli fans?

Have a Trucker Buddy like our class did! Maxine was for real! (But this is not our class pictured)

Yes it was! Are you a teacher interested in doing a great geography unit with your students. Here is the link for the Trucker Buddy Program. Sign up now and get a trucker buddy to travel around the nation and be your classes pen pal.

As you saw in Front of the Class, the kids love it and maybe someday your trucker buddy will be in your area and surprise your class just like “Maxine” surprised our class.

Is this a project you think your students would enjoy? How would you use the trucker buddy program in your class?

Jimmy Wolk in the Classroom

It is my hope that teachers will use Front of the Class to share my story with their students. Between the bullying that takes place to Brad saying “I just want to be treated like everyone else” their are many lessons to look at with Brad Cohen’s story. So many Character Education words come to mind that were a central theme in this story.

1) Positive Attitude
2) Perseverance
3) Passion
4) Honesty
5) Acceptance
6) Self Control
7) Respect for Others
8 ) Kindness
9) Accountability
10) Courage
11) Courtesy
12) Tolerance
13) Acceptance
14) Persistence
15) Self-respect
16) Motivation
17) Patience
18) Determination
19) Self-reliance
20) Self-confidence

ATTENTION TEACHERS and EDUCATORS and PARENTS: What lessons would you teach in the classroom after you show Front of the Class to your students? What conversations took place after parents and children watched the movie together?

I’d love to collect your thoughts so I can create a “Teacher Guide” to distribute to go along with the movie for when classrooms and families watch the movie. PLEASE SHARE!

Brad, Dominic and Jimmy hanging out in between sets

Neither Jimmy Wolk or Dominic Scott Kay had Tourette Syndrome in real life. They are both actors. They both did an amazing job learning about my tics. The director video taped me before they started shooting the film as I talked about my Tourette’s. I explained all the tics I’ve had and how and when I do them. I explained that their is a method behind the madness with TS and that each tic has its own reason behind it. They also watch old video tapes of me growing up and during my first year of teaching. In order to assure the tics were consistent throughout the movie as well as between Jimmy and Dominic, they had a dialect coach to work with them the entire time. Mary MacDonald, also the voice of on-star and other voice-overs, was their coach. She did an amazing job working with them for over 5 weeks. Both Jimmy and Dominic said they were worn out after each day of shooting the film because of all the tics they did. They told me they could get a massage on set whenever they wanted.

How did you think Jimmy and Dominic did acting as a Touretter?