Oliver was such a jewel. Articulate...uncanny and wise beyond his years. We should have cloned him before he went to his rest. That vestige...that voice...that mind. RIP!

Brad cohen is a gift from God

It's literally enhanced "normality". If something extraordinary happens it causes distress on a spectrum OR its like the enjoyment we get from thrill seeking. When the forecast doesn't read as we wish, distress, however thunder and lightning, is a mix of fear and excitement

0:19 0:43 1:05 1:30 3:11 3:38 3:50 5:13 5:34 8:22 8:58

You are as normal as any other person..... thank you for your inspiring story...

I absolutely love Brad! We need a lot more teachers like him so students always feel encouraged and accepted no matter how different they are!

The boy with the electrical plugs surely inspired Dudley from The Royal Tenenbaums- those flip glasses. Him talking about the tornado was a bit Gummo

Brad Cohen is an excellent teacher. He deserved to win the teacher of the year award for the state of Georgia. Brad's one of the best teachers in the world. Just because someone has Tourette's Syndrome doesn't mean they won't be a great teacher. Assuming someone with Tourette's Syndrome wouldn't be great at teaching is the equivalence of assuming someone who's an introvert isn't fit to be a pastor, someone with a stuttering problem isn't fit to be a public speaker, etc. There's lots of successful pastors that are introverts, and there's lots of successful public speakers that have stuttering problems.

It’s hard to be Shane’s neighbor for over 30+ years… he does get angry easily, not knowing his mood day to day.

I couldn't imagine suffering Shane's company for 2 minutes.

Oh bless his heart! He seems like a blast.

I wonder how Shane is now? I hope He’s happy and loved and has continued with his fantastic art. I loved the interplay between Him and Oliver Sacks, you could really feel genuine friendship there. Not the same I know but I’ve had starers throughout my life too as I’m a congenital upper limb amputee. A certain cross section of society treat you as if you are stupid if you aren’t ‘perfect’ but who is? I’d love to spend time with You Shane, I think you are as cool as a penguin sucking an ice cube. Stay golden. 😄

My 9 year old was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. His psychiatrist recommended to watch and read all about Oliver Sacks and I'm so glad he did. This was a beautiful documentary. I love Shane's personality. The Tourette Syndrome is a part of what makes Shane so charismatic. My son too has a great personality and is an amazing artist already. He is a gift to me and maybe I will make a documentary about him too one day!

Se ve que es un gran maestro.

Very inspiring, thank you and bless you all.

Bless the dad's heart, you can't tell Shane to calm down ,. hope Shane's having a great life.

The British teacher in the hall Says at 1:07, He’s very loud, very American. How rude!! Or is that a good thing for some.

Было бы хорошо, если бы был русский перевод.

I didn't know my principle inspired more people then me.

I like this documentary, but the narrator seems to stigmatize Brad's condition with her language.

So glad I found this. I just read about this documentary in Clara Claiborne Parks book "Exiting Nirvana" about Jessica Parks. Thank you for posting this.

Awesome...... AMEN

I would never ever say this is ever a developmental disorder. she knew how to read and write before she was ever taught. these people are beyond us... I feel sometimes the autistic persons amoung us who make the effort to learn to communicate with us are dumbing themselves down to our level. they have surpassed our level of understanding and self development in so many ways its embarrassing....'I FEEL LIKE' (this is just an opinionated theory) I wish there were more elevated thinkers like this in the world.

they find their truths and comforts in a world of absolutes.. things they can control and predict.. in the fist post if this documentary he explained Jessie's love of almanacs and encyclopedias as well her vass knowledge of the constellations. These are all things that are explicable and/or make sense... this episode of the documentary focused on understanding an austics need for consistency.... I am also curious to that answer, however I answer their detest for inconsistency with understanding of their sometimes emotional instability (which happens to all of us). its very common for autistic individuals to be less than sociable, actually its very common.. but understanding their fear of change .. that makes perfect sense. An adult or child with aspergers syndrome may seem like a fully functional person will most likely miss obvious social or emotional clues. However, dislike actual autism they hold very strong emotions toward few, but very specific things or even a person. People with aspergers are often quiet and highly functional and work best by themselves. what I've always wanted to learn about those with aspergers is/are their love lives... and the music they choose to listen to...

I dream to be a teacher and I have mild tourettes! I look up to him so much.

RIP Oliver Sacks (9 July 1933 - 30 August 2015), he was a British neurologist, writer and Professor of Neurology at New York University.

my oldest son is living with tourette syndrome....it was so hard at school...teatchers didnt have time to care for sick kids....the best way of living i teach to my child at that time was....if people look hard at you or laugh at you....they are ignorant so its up to you to teach team...so he took my advise seriously and every year he was giving a little medecine lesson to kids classemate...teatcher about his desise....after...kids are what they are....they were rude at him...he was an easy target....so i give him an other lesson....the big one.....dont be upset about you...about your syndrome...people that laugh of you....didnt lkisten when you were teatching them about the syndrome....so now for them to understand you and play with you not play of you....laugh with them...play with who you are....you are a tourette syndrome patient....have fun with them....he really put that on his way for living...he is now 20 years old...he is working...not easy for people with that syndrome....but possible....at 15 his doctor tell my son...maybe your futur will to be on social security....he is trying verry hard not to be on....so im verry proud of my son

Not to play down the difficulty of tourettes, but the thing I like about Shane is what I like about the best comedians. There's a catharsis there, granted it isn't fun for the touretter (Oliver Sacks' term) all the time or maybe any of the time, so what am I talking about? I don't know.

I have been fascinated with Dr Sacks for over twenty years. Why did he not admit that he himself has a syndrome where he is not able to recognise faces. It makes me think that all his other research has been flawed because of this. Please help me understand why/how.....

Thank you for posting this! Oliver Sachs has a rare gift of being able to share the many challenges that humans live with - in a sensitive way that helps us all to understand - at least on some level - - and have compassion. Love his voice, too! It is great to be able to watch this - - again - Thank you!

God bless him, we need good teachers...

Full respect to him

Full respect to him

Brad your a inspiration love to get in touch with you my 12 year old has tourettes syndrome trying to educate teachers so desperate could do with your help urgently

Thanks for the upload. Surely this isn't the documentary in its entirety though?

Oliver Sacks is amazing.... his voice sounds like Werner Herzog.

Why oh why does he say the house with the rays looks spooky? It's so beautiful. The colors are so magnificent it almost feels like I haven't seen exactly those colors before. Also I feel the rays dont zone in on the house, rather come from the source perfectly aligned behind the house. No wonder her art is so expensive! Its so so good!

Interesting documentary

He would benefit greatly from Deep brain stimulation! What a great man on how he deals w/ his situation! I think Shane is wonderful!

Thank you so much for posting these. Very interesting to watch learn more about TS!

I don't think her paintings are scary. They have soft colors and mix reality and fantasy in a most extraordinary way. The sun ray one was really pretty, and I could never see the rays implode on the house. Everyone knows rays go inside out.

I understand what Dr. Sachs is saying of how unfortunate it is the way people react to Shane, but unfortunately, when a stranger lunges towards you on the street, you will be startled or scared, and will likely feel threatened - even if he doesn't actually touch you. This is a natural reaction which the rest of us cannot, and should not, lose.

Inspiring

I'm reading his book "Front of the Class" right now. It's inspirational...and it makes me sad for the kids in elementary school who are shunned because of their disabilities.

OMG thank you for uploading this!! I've been looking for this for years :D

@cpg226 I never saw that episode but would love to and haven't come across it anywhere

Could it be that she was ashamed of her "snapping" because she was suddenly aware of being watched? She became self aware for a second? Aware that she was "different", aware of observation which may of caused her to observe herself?

Do you happen to know where I could find a copy of the episode on Deafness? "Ragin' Cajun"? It doesn't seem to be available anywhere that I've searched online.

I dont believe I have ocd and touching issues or impulsive issues either and I have TS maybe this is just this one person but the dr makes it seem likes its for all ppl with TS.

I remember watching this on PBS many years ago and I've always wanted to see it again. Such a fascinating case made all the more compelling by Sacks' unique insight. Sadly Ms. Park's mother passed away last summer. A remarkable woman. Thanks for sharing!