Actor helps boy spread the awareness of Tourette Syndrome and Bullying!

Babyblue · 09-12-2009, 07:31 AM

Actor With Tourette's Visits Lakeland Third-Grader | theledger.com | The Ledger | Lakeland, FL

Quote:

By Gary White
THE LEDGER

Published: Friday, September 11, 2009 at 11:50 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, September 11, 2009 at 11:50 p.m.

LAKELAND | Jaylen Arnold was the most popular kid in the cafeteria Friday at Victory Christian Academy.

"They were all trying to sit by me," Jaylen, 9, said of his fellow students. "I had to arrange the table. They all said, 'Can I sit by you? Can I sit by the movie star?'"

The requests came because Jaylen had a guest for lunch, a 6-foot-3, square-jawed actor named Dash Mihok. The actor, familiar from such movies as "Romeo + Juliet" and "I Am Legend," had come to visit Jaylen and support his crusade against bullying.

Mihok, like Jaylen, has Tourette syndrome, a mysterious neurological disorder that causes involuntary and repetitive movements or speech or both. Mihok, 35, arrived Thursday night to spend a few days with the Arnold family.

Mihok (pronounced MEE-hawk) plans to record a public-service announcement with Jaylen on Sunday, and the two are scheduled to speak to students at Bartow Elementary Academy on Tuesday. Jaylen's parents hope to get the public-service announcement on to major networks, including the Disney Channel.

Mihok learned about Jaylen through a Bay News 9 segment posted on CNN.com in June, following a feature in The Ledger. The segment included a video snippet of Jaylen from March, when he was in the midst of a violent flare up, complete with uncontrolled arm thrusts that left him exhausted.

From that clip, Mihok found the Web site (www.jaylenschallenge.org) Jaylen created to combat bullying, of which he has sometimes been a target.

"I saw Jay and I was so excited and proud," Mihok said. "I thought this was such a brave individual, and he really reminded me of myself when I was younger, but I certainly wasn't that brave. I was more into hiding it. So he really inspired me."

Mihok contacted Jaylen through the Web site, and after several phone calls, Jaylen's parents, Howard and Robin Arnold, invited Mihok to visit Lakeland.

"It's fun to have him here," Jaylen said. "I like that he came over here because he's fun."

The reddish-brown-haired actor, fresh from the set of the small-budget film "Lifted" in Alabama, wore one of Jaylen's blue-and-yellow wristbands inscribed "Bullying No Way" Friday afternoon as he sat on the Arnolds' couch. Jaylen flipped through a school yearbook, showing Mihok a girl he has a crush on.

"These two are peas in a pod," said Robin Arnold. "Dash is Jaylen all grown up, down to the same tics. ... They do probably nine of the same tics."

Tics are the manifestations of Tourette's. As he sat with Jaylen, Mihok engaged in a series of involuntary movements, swiping at the right side of his face with a clawed hand, swiveling his head to the right and making sniffing sounds. The New York native was diagnosed at age 6, yet he has managed to work steadily as an actor for 15 years.

Mihok said as a child he compensated for his Tourette's by becoming overly extroverted. He said vanishing into a movie role allows him to control his tics long enough to complete a scene.

Jaylen was diagnosed with Tourette's at age 3. These days, his dominant tics are rapid blinks, mouth motions and head rolls, though when he's excited his whole body can be involved.

Jaylen also has severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Mihok said he, too, developed many OCD rituals as a child.

The public-service announcement to be recorded near Lake Morton won't be Jaylen's first time in front of the camera. He has recorded some unscripted video segments for his blog, in which he uses the persona of a TV pitchman to rail against bullying.

"He is just a ham in front of the camera," Robin Arnold said.

"You're a ham," Mihok repeated to Jaylen.

"Don't eat me," Jaylen replied.

A crew from CBS News also is scheduled to be in Lakeland on Monday and Tuesday to meet Jaylen.

Jaylen said he has always wanted to be an actor, apparently forgetting his long-held plan to become a dentist.

"My whole family says, 'You should be in movies; you should be an actor,'" the third-grader said.

Mihok, also a hip-hop musician, said he recently recorded a song about Jaylen's anti-bullying campaign.

"It's good," Jaylen said of the song, adding, "Deep voice."

Jaylen plans to audition for a school musical soon, and Mihok offered his tutoring services.

He also suggested writing a play to spread Jaylen's message, "Bullying No Way."

Though Jaylen's parents mainly restrict his viewing to the Disney Channel and G-rated movies, they did rent "I Am Legend" and allow Jaylen to watch the parts in which Mihok appears as Alpha Male, the leader of a band of aggressive mutants in a post-apocalypse New York.

The family planned to watch "Firehouse Dog," another of Mihok's movies, Friday night. The Arnolds and Mihok were set to visit Universal Studios today.

Mihok, who is married with no children, said he hopes his presence reassures Jaylen that it's possible to be successful despite the challenges of living with Tourette syndrome.

"(I wanted) to let Jaylen know there's someone just like him who's an adult and doing his thing, and you can be anything you want to be," Mihok said.

"I have no doubt this young man is going to accomplish anything he wants to. He's smart as a whip and a beautiful soul."

This is great! I can relate to this story, due to my Twin brother has Tourette Syndrome. He grew up with the bullying from other children.

It is awesome that this little boy has someone to help him spread the awareness of TS and Bullying. Great JOB Jaylen!!

Here is a good link on Tourettes.

Tourette Syndrome Association TSA Home Page

**Jolie77** · 09-12-2009, 08:23 AM

That is wonderful! Thanks for sharing this inspiring article.

I agree, it is imperative to keep spreading out the knowledge and awareness of any kind of conditions such as Tourette Syndrome, so and on.

I think for Jaylen, that would be a huge feast in order to see that the actor, Dash Mihok is able to pave through it and he can too.

**shel90** · 09-12-2009, 09:11 AM

What an inspiring story!!!

Babyblue · 09-12-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolie77

That is wonderful! Thanks for sharing this inspiring article.

I agree, it is imperative to keep spreading out the knowledge and awareness of any kind of conditions such as Tourette Syndrome, so and on.

I think for Jaylen, that would be a huge feast in order to see that the actor, Dash Mihok is able to pave through it and he can too.

I agree. Awareness needs to be spread that people can not help with what they are born with. Bullying and picking on them does not make their lives easy. So as with any conditions. No one deserves to be picked on because they are different.

Babyblue · 09-12-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel90

What an inspiring story!!!

Yes it was. It put a smile on my face when I read it this Morning.

jillio · 09-12-2009, 11:17 AM

Nice to see some uplifting news for a change. Never underestimate the power of kids! Great story!

Babyblue · 09-12-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

Nice to see some uplifting news for a change. Never underestimate the power of kids! Great story!

Yes!

Seeing my twin brother grow up with it. Was hard. He had a rough life. Back then it was almost unheard of. So it is uplifting to see more and more awareness on TS.

CJB · 09-12-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babyblue

I agree. Awareness needs to be spread that people can not help with what they are born with. Bullying and picking on them does not make their lives easy. So as with any conditions. No one deserves to be picked on because they are different.

rockin'robin · 09-12-2009, 09:50 PM

My friends son has TS.....Good post!

Babyblue · 02-08-2012, 08:45 AM

dogmom · 02-08-2012, 12:06 PM

for sharing that article, that was a good one.
I'm glad you "bumped" the thread

Audiofuzzy · 02-08-2012, 01:10 PM

There is this GREAT movie about a teacher with Tourette syndrome:

Front of the Class
Front of the Class (TV 2008) - IMDb

please, please, PLEASE see this movie!
It's a true story. Very moving.

Front of the Class - Brad Cohen - Class Performance

Fuzzy

dogmom · 02-08-2012, 04:11 PM

oh, I would like to see this movie

09-12-2009, 08:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jolie77 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kentucky, USA (The Bluegrass State) Posts: 8,514 Blog Entries: 1	That is wonderful! Thanks for sharing this inspiring article. I agree, it is imperative to keep spreading out the knowledge and awareness of any kind of conditions such as Tourette Syndrome, so and on. I think for Jaylen, that would be a huge feast in order to see that the actor, Dash Mihok is able to pave through it and he can too. __________________ Isaiah 33:6 - "He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure."

09-12-2009, 09:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
shel90 Audist are not welcome Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: A place where crabs are popular Posts: 40,491 Blog Entries: 3	What an inspiring story!!! __________________ "Wine improves with age. The older I get, the better I like it." --- Anonymous

02-08-2012, 01:10 PM	#12 (permalink)
Audiofuzzy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,389	There is this GREAT movie about a teacher with Tourette syndrome: Front of the Class Front of the Class (TV 2008) - IMDb please, please, PLEASE see this movie! It's a true story. Very moving. Front of the Class - Brad Cohen - Class Performance Fuzzy __________________ . A 'No' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble. Mohandas Gandhi .

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09-12-2009, 11:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
jillio Banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 60,296	Nice to see some uplifting news for a change. Never underestimate the power of kids! Great story!

09-12-2009, 09:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
rockin'robin Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 15,659	My friends son has TS.....Good post!

02-08-2012, 08:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
Babyblue Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 12,034

02-08-2012, 12:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
dogmom Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5,510	for sharing that article, that was a good one. I'm glad you "bumped" the thread

02-08-2012, 04:11 PM	#13 (permalink)
dogmom Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5,510	oh, I would like to see this movie