We often hear that “representation matters.” We know the reasons why, but it is rare when we can see the impact of representation so clearly.

Many of us in Upstate New York are not familiar with Jumaane Williams. He is the Public Advocate for NYC, one of two Citywide elected officials. He ran for Lt. Governor in 2019 and came close to beating then Lt Governor Kathy Hochul. He ran against her again in 2022 in a less successful bid for Governor. But what is important to many is that he is the first elected official in America with Tourette’s Syndrome. What’s more, Jumaane leans into his status as having a disability; he doesn’t run from it or pretend it doesn’t exist, like so many electees from both parties often do.

How does this matter to us, as people outside NYC with disabilities? Well, for one, the Public Advocate’s office gives Mr. Williams a pulpit from which to speak, and his role as a Citywide elected official for one of the biggest cities in the world makes that a larger pulpit.

Well, we see it in little ways. For instance, the Public Advocate’s website focuses explicitly on accessibility and holds itself accountable for not being fully accessible but striving to get there.

But there are bigger areas where we see representation matter. Take, for instance, the recent controversy surrounding a man with Tourette’s Syndrome at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs). This moment understandably sparked strong feelings from John Davidson, the man with Tourette’s who was the basis of an award-winning movie that evening, I Swear, as well as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, stars of the multi-award-winning film “Sinners”, who were onstage to present the award for Best Visual Effects. The moment impacted many in the room, and those at home watching – as the BBC inexplicably chose not to edit the slur out of its broadcast, despite running on a two-hour time delay.

How does the NYC Public Advocate factor into this? Well, as a Black man with Tourette’s, including Coprolalia, which means his tics can include socially unacceptable words, such as the N-word used by Mr. Davidson at the BAFTAs, he has a unique perspective and ability to comment on this, and that is exactly what he did. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams took to his YouTube channel to address this from a nuanced perspective, empathizing with the impact the moment had on all of the parties involved. More importantly, he can talk about that to a broader community.

Most importantly, as a high-profile individual living in the public eye, the Public Advocate can humanize a story that is likely impacting people beyond the BAFTAs. Like many disabilities, Tourette’s can be extremely socially isolating. This is particularly true for the small portion of the population with Coprolalia – the form of Tourette’s that results in an uncontrollable compulsion to yell obscenities, slurs, and curse words. When kids, or even adults, see someone in Mr. Williams’ position say, “I’m like you. Everyone else, let me tell you what this is like,” it eases that isolation. It makes people feel less isolated. It gives them hope and ambition. It may even save a life.

That is why representation matters. And CDR thanks Public Advocate Jumaane Williams for continually living his life proudly and visibly as a Disabled man – and not hiding from that disability. For speaking of the complexities and injustices of intersectional -isms. And, most importantly, for giving kids the ability to see someone with a disability speaking to how that disability impacts them, how they live with it, and that they too can move on to achieve great things.