รายละเอียดกระทู้

Educational puppet troupe teaches Sask. kids about disability Kids on the Block provide awareness and dispel myths about disabilities Reported by Kelly Malone First Posted: Mar 10, 2014 8:38am http://ckom.com/story/educational-puppet-troupe-teaches-sask-kids-about-disability/278254 In a room packed with excited little voices two big puppets hit the stage. They aren’t just any puppets they are the Kids on the Block. “They all have a little back story,” explained Jennifer Kimball, one of the puppeteers and an assistant youth and family network coordinator. “We try and encourage the idea that even though (the puppets) have a disability it just means that they do stuff differently. Like they may be in a wheelchair but they can still go everywhere and they can still have friends. Our main message is that it's OK to be different so we promote inclusion through that message.” The Kids on the Block are a part of the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living. Kimball explained that a lot of kids feel comfortable asking the giant puppets questions that they might not ask a parent. “They are their age, and sort of their height. It’s easier. They are asking another kid a question. They aren't going to get mad at you, they aren't going to think you are stupid, and they usually answer in a fun way,” she said. “A lot of people are like, ‘Don't stare, don't talk to them because you might offend them.’ But the puppets are like, ‘Ask questions. Ask them if you can ask a question.’ Usually people with disabilities are very willing to answer it. They want to break down the barriers themselves and the different misconceptions that there is about disability.” Andrea Young is also a puppeteer. She said that having open dialogue is important for an inclusive society. “We talk about things like autism and down syndrome and things like that really openly and I think that that is really great for the kids to hear because a lot of times people aren't sure about what kind of words they should use or are allowed to use. This the whole message is it's OK to be different and it's OK to talk about it,” she said. “The puppets help answer the questions in a way that would make sense to kids more so than coming from us…. I think it's so wonderful at the youngest of age to realize that it would be pretty boring if everyone was the same and so we celebrate differences.” Between the two women, the puppets make their way around the province from north to south performing at community events and in schools. Kimball explained that the road is also where they memorize the lines for all of the different characters. “Right at the beginning I remember it was really difficult because you are trying to talk with your hand at the same time you are talking with your mouth and I remember it looked like a bad foreign film... it's quite a bit of practice,” Kimball said with a laugh, adding that social media has greatly increased the amount of shows they do. “Our main scripts right now we do on bullying, we have one on autism. There is Super Ears, with a puppet that is blind. The Olympics, which is dispelling myths about people with disabilities not being able to play sports or do anything, like that.” There are at least nine different puppets with different stories and disabilities in Kids on the Block. “We had one parent come to the last Children's Discovery Museum Show because she has a son with autism and she was like, ‘When he enters school I would like the show to come there so that his classmates learn about it in a fun way that they will relate to and can apply it,’” Kimball explained. “If they learn about it younger it becomes normal for them as they grow older so they can take it into elementary and hopefully high school and beyond that. If they learn that it is normal now and you can still play with them and they can still be your friend then when people with a disability are in the community they will still include them in the workplace and community living. It’s important so (people with a disability) aren't just living; they are part of the community.” For more information visit the Kids on the Block Facebook page. kmalone@rawlco.com Follow on Twitter: @KellyGerMalone