USI removes student from campus because of his Tourette’s

Oct 12, 2020

A USI student named Seth Pressler who has Tourette’s syndrome was allowed to come to campus, but now he is being sent home to continue his education online because of other students’ reports about his disability to Public Safety. According to others I’ve heard from at this university as well as the person who made the petition, Seth is a pleasant and kind student who is always apologetic about his disability and explains that he has Tourette’s when people are offended by his behavior, but his apologies are often not accepted.

As someone who is on the autism spectrum and has been ostracized throughout my childhood for “socially unacceptable” behavior such as stimming or talking too loud or laughing at inappropriate times, I feel for this man. A disability is a disability, no matter how “socially unacceptable” it is. Disabled people can’t always adapt to our society’s expectations, and they shouldn’t have to do so just to access the same privileges as others. Our society needs to adapt to meet disabled people’s needs.

Please sign this petition and reblog this. (Remember not to donate to change.org.)