Cuomo Bridge To Be Lit In Teal For Tourette Syndrome Awareness

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — To mark the beginning of National Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month, the state Thruway Authority will illuminate the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge in a special color.

The bridge will be lit with teal lighting Saturday night, according to a spokesperson.

Members of the New York/Hudson Valley Chapter of the Tourette Association of American will gather Saturday evening to view the lighting and provide awareness about Tourette Syndrome.

The chapter includes members from Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Orange counties.

New York's state legislature also will recognize May 15 to June 15 as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month in the state.

The idea to light the bridge originated in 2019 with Hartsdale resident and TAA Youth Ambassador Alexandra Cuttler.

She was bullied for her disorder and decided to try to change the way people regard those with Tourette Syndrome.

"What started as a dream to raise awareness for Tourette quickly became reality," Cuttler said in a prepared statement, "with the hope that if we can positively impact even one person, it will be a success."

Tourette Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose main symptoms for diagnosis are verbal and motor tics. It is estimated that one out of every 160 children between the ages of 5 and 17 in the United State has Tourette Syndrome.