January 14, 2002

Dear Mr. Neiden,

Thank you very much for the wonderful performance of "Welcome to Tourettaville" at the District Health Coordinators meeting on December 14, 2001. The play is an outstanding resource for our schools. Through sparkling songs, an excellent script, and delightful performers, the play helps bring the audience into the world of a child with Tourette Syndrome (TS). But perhaps just as important, its appeal extends beyond TS. This play elicits empathy for anyone with differences and disabilities. Classroom discussion and activities can use the play as a springboard for addressing such universal issues as feeling "different", left out, isolated, or misunderstood. Children of all ages can identify with these themes.

Congratulations to young Jonny Ospa, his mother, June Rachelson-Ospa and you for creating this fine work, and for expressing interest in sharing it with the students and staff of the New York City public schools.

Sincerely,

Betty Rothbart
Comprehensive Health Coordinatior

Vincent B. Giordano
Terry Marx
Nancy Shankman
Mohamed Yasin
William Molbert
Fred Kaesar