Pop Sensation Dylan Brady Visits Finley Middle School
Pop sensation Dylan Brady visited J. Taylor Finley Middle School last week for an event sponsored by the district’s arts in education committee.
A 17 year old Long Island senior, Mr. Brady plays guitar and sings, enjoys soccer and hanging out with friends and lives with Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder that results in repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called “tics.”
After being diagnosed at age 12, Mr. Brady became a youth ambassador for the Tourette Syndrome Association to help inform and enlighten others about the disorder. The teenager is an advocate for acceptance and tolerance, speaking throughout the country, including at a recent national conference in Atlanta.
A seasoned musician, Mr. Brady has performed with the Brady Brothers, 5 Seconds of Summer and Meghan Trainor. The teenager spent an entire afternoon at Finley, giving separate presentations to seventh and eighth grade classes.
“He spoke to the students about Tourette syndrome and explained how it is a genetic disease,” parent Debbie Chin said. “He shared his personal story of how he was diagnosed and how he has dealt with the disease for the past five years.”
Mr. Brady led an activity that involved Finley students completing an assignment with specific instructions to “cross out every third word” while listening to him as their teacher and looking up whenever he clapped his hands. The simulation activity was a small example of trying to accomplish schoolwork while suffering from tics, a common symptom of the Tourette syndrome.
Dr. Georges Gilles de la Tourette, a French neurologist, first described the condition in an 86-year-old French noblewoman in 1885. Early symptoms of the disorder are usually spotted during childhood, with the onset typically occurring between 3-9 years old. Males are affected as much as four times more frequently than females. About 200,000 Americans are estimated to have the most severe form of Tourette syndrome.
One of Mr. Brady’s primary messages concerned acceptance. “Everyone has something that makes them different,” he told Finley students. His own “something” is Tourette syndrome and he said that he “just happens to move around a little more than the next guy.”
Mr. Brady shared personal stories of being bullied and how he overcame it. “It’s important to accept yourself and others,” he said. Finley students were allowed ample time to pose questions.
The Finley students made a positive impression on their visitor. Mr. Brady told organizers that the seventh and eighth graders seemed genuinely interested in his story and how he has dealt with his condition.
Once the formal presentation portion of the visit was over, the Finley large group instruction room (as the auditorium is formally known) was transformed into a concert hall. Mr. Brady showcased his guitar and singing skills and performed a selection of songs by Justin Bieber and One Direction and some of his own original music. The crowd joined along singing, cheering, clapping and even breaking out in tears.
Mr. Brady even set aside time to take selfies with Finley students and to give autographs to those desiring one, including the seventh and eighth graders and even teachers and support staff members.
The special visitor signed a banner welcoming him to the school this way: “Finley, Follow your Dreams! Your friend, Dylan Brady.”
“This unforgettable program was educational, inspirational and entertaining,” Mrs. Chin said.
Visit www.dylancbrady.com for more information about Mr. Brady. Visit www.li-tsa.or/ for more information about the Long Island Tourette Syndrome Association.