A man with a severe form of Tourette’s syndrome has been welcomed with open arms in Comox, after being banned from a business in another community.
Kace Kason Colder posted an advisory to a Facebook group for Comox residents recently, letting his neighbours know that he has Tourette’s and asked them not to be upset if they encounter him around town.
“With my coprolalia (obscene Tourette’s), I’m surprised nobody has ranted about me yet! Just want to let you guys know that if you see me around town repeating obscenities, please don’t take offence,” wrote the 21-year-old man. “It’s neurological and happens like seizures.”
Coprolalia is characterized by the excessive use of curse words and obscene language.
It is uncontrollable and is a symptom of Tourette’s syndrome, which can also be identified by physical tics, groans, grunts and shouting.
It appears Colder had previously lived in Nanaimo, but said he was asked to leave the city’s now-closed Target store due to his disorder.
“I phoned and complained, but they kicked me out a second time, after which I had to directly speak to the manager,” he explained in the thread.
In a further Facebook post, Colder said he was diagnosed with coprolalia at the age of 17, and explained some of his previous struggles dealing with the condition.
“Everywhere I went, people judged me, based on vocalizations I couldn’t control,” he wrote. “After a lawsuit with my local hospital (who sued me for my disability), and being kicked out of Target twice, I quickly grew accustomed to the fact my life would be anything but typical.”
Responses to Colder’s post in the Comox group were positive and jovial, with some even making light-hearted jokes.
Brenda Jones wrote: “I find that most people in the Comox Valley are compassionate and embrace both similarities and differences. You are blessed by living in such a great community.”
Another poster by the name of Bernie Arthurs commented, “S’all good buddy. Hell, I might even join in.”
James Huber joked that he would “probably have figured you were from Cumberland.”
Many others promised to say hello if they spotted Colder around town, while some cited Ray Crossley as having paved the way for much of Comox’s nonchalance toward the condition.
Crossley served as a Comox city councillor from 2002 until his death in 2010 at the age of 52. Crossley also had Tourette’s syndrome but was still able to serve his community during three consecutive terms.
