Lesson 4: Don’t Ask for Permission to Build a Life that Accommodates Needs
Stewart’s career in Technology Support at Rogers exemplifies his refusal to be defined by diagnostic labels or external assumptions. His interest in technology was rooted in his childhood, where he was known as the “IT guy” in high school for his ability to fix computer issues.
Knowing what he’s passionate about and combining it with his direct, open style led Andrew to do something remarkable. In a move many of us would not dare to make, he emailed the CEO of Rogers directly and advocated for his chance to prove he could be a valuable employee.
This bold, direct approach was no accident; it was a move rooted in his philosophy of self-advocacy and consent, bypassing the traditional hiring process. Andrew’s bold move paid off, leading to an immediate call from the head of recruitment and ultimately securing his role in Technology Support.
Once hired, he proactively partnered with his support team to organize an “in-service” training session for his new colleagues, fostering understanding and setting clear expectations for accommodating his needs before he even officially started.
However, this directness and desire for accommodation isn’t one-way; it’s also something he strives to accomplish for others around him. For example, some may take a lack of eye contact personally. Knowing he struggles with this, he tells people upfront why he may not make eye contact—this clarifies the situation before any awkwardness occurs.
He also shared an anecdote about hugging. Andrew is a big hugger of friends, family, and co-workers. But he also understands that not everyone shares the same views or expectations, so he communicates openly with friends and colleagues, ensuring his actions are welcome before acting. In this way, he contributes to an accommodating and thoughtful environment for everyone.
Lesson 5: Support is Not Failure, but Optimization
For Andrew, support should never be seen as failure, whether regarding friends, school, or the workplace. Accommodation is about bringing out the best in himself and the environment he inhabits. His view is that a company is stronger when each member of its team can do their best work.
Stewart is frank about the importance of support, which for him includes a job coach and a workplace standard of inclusion. Support is a necessary patchwork of revised norms that contribute to a more cohesive and compassionate community.
He asserts that “A company is fundamentally stronger by ensuring each member of its team is empowered to achieve their maximum potential.”
He extends this framework by having his mother attend his annual performance reviews—not simply as a parent, but as a knowledgeable advocate who can effectively explain his needs and who can be contacted by his boss during challenging moments.
Lesson 6: Openness Creates Possibility for Others
Stewart’s commitment to advocacy is deeply rooted in his desire to alleviate the suffering of others. His father co-founded a Tourette support group decades ago, and his mother wrote a supportive book for parents and teens. Just as Tourette’s can run in a family, so it seems can a desire to communicate openly.
Stewart himself shares his story across videos, articles, on LinkedIn, and at accessibility events. He shares his experience not for personal attention, but because he remembers the terror of waiting for answers, feeling misunderstood, and navigating a mind and body that felt suddenly foreign.
His openness directly eases the burden for others.
“I know how bad it was for me,” he said. “It was like hell and back… I don’t want anyone to go through that.”
In a community where Tourette’s Syndrome is often misunderstood, and tics are frequently reduced to a punchline, voices like Andrew Stewart’s are essential to driving literacy, understanding, and compassion.
Lesson 7: Family Must be Advocates
An essential lesson for any family just learning how to navigate Tourette’s is the importance of parental advocates. This is the through-line we’ve heard across all of our interviews with people who thrive while having Tourette’s.
Finding the right environment is key to success and flourishing. While Andrew has now found a rewarding environment to work in, he wasn’t always so lucky, and local institutions and schools may be unable or unwilling to provide the support that’s needed. Some friends, teachers, coworkers, and even family members may never understand and create barriers to success.
As any passionate, strong-willed parent can tell you, no matter your level of persistence, some people and places are never going to change. Navigating this is an immensely difficult struggle and is especially impossible without the support of a parent.
Andrew’s own story exemplifies this: he was unable to find appropriate accommodations anywhere in Canada but, through his parents’ determined advocacy, was eventually able to attend a specialized boarding high school for students with ADHD and learning disabilities, an environment he called the “best four years of his life.”
While Andrew is aware that this came from a place of privilege that not everyone can afford, the fact remains that a parent’s fight for their child is critical. This is the core of his mother’s book, Hold On Tight.
However, after holding on and pushing for more equitable conditions, you get to another place. Hard-won, but more beautiful for the struggle: Lesson 8.
Lesson 8: Learning to Let Go
When asked about how he felt about having so much of his childhood discussed publicly in his mom’s book, Andrew’s response completely encapsulated the tenor of our conversation.
“I want to write my own book called ‘Let Go.’ Mom’s is called ‘Hold on Tight.’ Mine will be called ‘Let Go.'”
The truth of lesson seven is that it will eventually uncover a hidden lesson: Letting Go.
That’s not just a lesson for parents, but also for each of us who, as Andrew puts it, may never recover, but can learn to control.