Matt Toms on Tourette Syndrome, Autism, ADHD and the Exhaustion of Masking What happens when your disability is invisible, your capacity changes from one day to the next, and the people around you assume you’re simply being rude, lazy or difficult? Matt Toms joins Dylan Alcott and Angus O’Loughlin on ListenABLE for an open conversation about living with Tourette syndrome, autism and ADHD, and what it has taken for him to finally stop hiding his disability. For most of Matt’s life, masking helped him fit in. He learnt to suppress his Tourette’s tics and hide what was happening internally so he could socialise, work, compete in surf lifesaving and appear as though everything was fine. But masking came at a cost. Matt explains how suppressing his tics could leave him exhausted, overwhelmed and experiencing more explosive episodes once he returned to the safety of home. He describes the difficult reality of having an invisible disability where, on one day, he might be capable of physical work or competing in sport, while on another he can struggle to get himself a glass of water. From surf lifesaving and neurodivergence to employment, support workers, dating, family and learning to unmask, this episode is a reminder that disability doesn’t always look the way people expect it to. Follow & Connect Matt Toms – GuestMatt joins ListenABLE to share his lived experience with Tourette syndrome, autism and ADHD, including masking, employment, relationships, support and learning to embrace his disability.Matt’s social link to be added once confirmed. Dylan Alcott – HostInstagram: @dylanalcott Angus O’Loughlin – HostInstagram: @angus_oloughlin ListenABLE PodcastInstagram: @listenable_podcastListen on Apple Podcasts: ListenABLE on Apple Podcasts ListenABLE is recorded and produced in partnership with SESSION in PROGRESS, Melbourne’s video podcast studio and production team. Website: SESSION in PROGRESSInstagram: @session.in.progress Production In this episode • Living with Tourette syndrome, autism and ADHD• What Tourette’s tics can actually look like• Why tics can sometimes be mistaken for rude or inappropriate behaviour• Autism and Tourette syndrome masking• The physical and emotional exhaustion caused by suppressing tics• Invisible disability and fluctuating capacity• Spoon theory and managing limited energy• Disability, burnout and independence• Accessing support workers and the NDIS• The impact of disability on partners and family• Autism and sensory overload in construction and trades• Disability inclusion in the workplace• Dating and relationships with Tourette syndrome• Learning to disclose an invisible disability• Becoming comfortable and proud identifying as disabled• Why disability awareness and representation matter Tourette syndrome, Tourette’s syndrome, Tourette’s tics, autism, autism in adults, ADHD, autism and ADHD, autism and Tourette syndrome, neurodivergence, neurodivergent adults, invisible disability, hidden disability, disability masking, autistic masking, suppressing tics, disability burnout, autistic burnout, sensory overload, spoon theory, fluctuating capacity, NDIS, disability support workers, disability employment, autism in the workplace, disability in construction, dating with disability, relationships and disability, disability acceptance, disability advocacy.
