On the day before an historic Election Day, November 3, 2008, TSA made its own history of another kind. The organization mounted its first major education and outreach program directed to librarians.  An excellent overview presentation on “Living With Tourette Syndrome” was delivered to an eager audience of near 50 librarians affiliated with the county-wide, Nassau Library System, in Uniondale, Nassau County, Long Island, New York. The featured presenter was Kathy Giordano, TSA Education Specialist.

 
Kathy Giordano and audience members during the presentation.

The aim of this program was to fully inform and encourage interest in TS on the part of community librarians. Generously supported by the office of New York State Senator Charles Fuschillo, the program was a great success.

As a parent of three now-adult children with TS, a former educator, a part-time advocate for people with disabilities, and a TSA Education Specialist, Kathy Giordano was very well positioned to share essential information about the disorder and its effects. She augmented her presentation with many personal stories from each of these perspectives.

To further support this unique outreach, information and materials in both print and electronic formats were provided to all in attendance as part of the professional TS Education and Outreach Program Partnership joining the TSA with the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).

In addition to a detailed overview of the condition, its salient symptoms and a discussion of its effects in schools and in the community, much of the focus involved the essential role local librarians can plan in the development of children. All in attendance agree that librarians promote inclusion and involvement in library and community life for people with Tourette Syndrome.

One attendee remarked how she and her colleagues had reached out to an adult patron with symptoms they now believed to be TS, to assure that this individual could make complete use of their library and its facilities.  It was heartening to see many heads nodding as Kathy’s comments resonated with this very supportive group of professionals.

As a result of this program, library scientists can take their place along with teachers, social workers, psychologists, allied professionals and physicians in the promotion of knowledge, understanding and acceptance of Tourette Syndrome.  Based on this successful model program, TSA hopes to replicate it in communities across the country. Plans are being developed to provide affiliated libraries with resource materials, and to encourage libraries to have sections dedicated to information on Tourette Syndrome.