Your S’pore Story: ‘Most people don’t know how to talk to someone with special needs’
An educator who lives with Tourette syndrome, he has spent years helping others feel seen and hopes society can do the same
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It took time for Mr Jeremy Goh to embrace who he is – tics and all – but today, he stands proud of the person he has become.
PHOTO: SPH MEDIA
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Mr Jeremy Goh has spent more than two decades at the Genesis School for Special Education in West Coast, supporting children and youths with a range of special needs – a career he calls a “blessing”.
It is a role he came to after facing career setbacks because of his Tourette syndrome, and it is also where he finally felt valued.
Watch his video here.
As both a father and a special-needs educator living with Tourette’s, he can understand, perhaps better than most, the challenges his students and their families face. Tourette syndrome causes involuntary physical and verbal tics.
The 46-year-old knows what it is like to be stared at on public transport, misunderstood by strangers and judged in professional settings – all because of a condition many still do not fully understand.
Mr Goh is encouraged by the growing awareness of Tourette’s, especially on social media, and believes that public perceptions are slowly shifting. In his own words, he shares how he has faced stigma and found his footing navigating life with special needs.
Mr Goh shares a quiet moment at home with his daughter, Allymae, who has been one of his biggest supporters.
PHOTO: SPH MEDIA
“I was let go from two jobs because of my condition. I’ve also encountered people who move away from me when I get the tics on public transport. I don’t blame them because it’s normal to be afraid of something you don’t understand. In general, because of a lack of awareness, most people don’t know how to talk to someone with special needs.
My 14-year-old daughter has always been very protective of me. When we are out in public and I have the tics, she has no qualms about looking sternly at people who stare. When we take private hire car rides, she would inform the driver about my condition.
One time at a restaurant when she was only about seven or eight years old, she told off a group of youths who imitated my tics. They immediately apologised for their behaviour.
There has been a lot of improvement in how society views us, but there is still a way to go before people fully understand and embrace us.
Personally, I hope to see more help for young adults with special needs, as they are no longer supported by special needs schools. For example, I hope there can be an expansion of current employment support programmes, whereby a job coach accompanies these individuals on their jobs to help them integrate successfully into the workforce.
Given the right guidance, support and treatment, many of these young adults can contribute meaningfully to Singapore’s economy. I always believe that it is important for people living with Tourette’s to see themselves for who they are, beyond the condition.
For me, this epiphany came when I was assigned to teach the kindergarten class at Genesis School. Initially, I was concerned about how the children, who are very sensitive to loud noises, would react to my tics.
But after taking the time to really bond with them like how a parent would, I realised that I was able to communicate with them and help them regulate their emotions. By taking on the class, I looked beyond my condition and realised it did not have to stand in the way of forming real connections with my students.”
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