The Kids On The Block Deliver A Message About Disabilities

By Tanjua Damon

Mark and Melody are not your typical students, but what they talk about are issues that children have to address each day – disabilities.

Quinnipiac University occupational therapy seniors volunteer to put on a puppet show that addresses the issue of disabilities with elementary school children. By questioning the child-sized puppets, Middle Gate students were able to learn what it is like to be disabled and how to relate to disabled people.

The puppet show is called New Kids on the Block and features Mark, who has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair, or what he refers to as a cruiser. Melody has an emotional disability since losing one of her brothers in a car accident.

“The children really use the puppets. It’s a nice medium for them to learn about disabilities and disability awareness,” Beth O’Sullivan, coordinator of occupational therapy, said. “Children start asking questions to the puppets.”

Middle Gate students were not any different. They wanted to know how Mark took a shower, how he ate, what sports he played, how he got up the stairs and in bed, and how he played video games.

“The children feel comfortable asking the puppets questions,” Ms O’Sullivan said. “They don’t know how to bridge that gap or barrier.”

Mark told the students that the wheelchair or cruiser acts like his legs since his legs are stiff from the disease. He has to wear a helmet to protect the “brains” in his head. He uses a chair to take a shower, but likes to play sports just like everyone else, especially football and basketball.

Melody has to work through her anger of losing a sibling. She has a hard time dealing with the loss and has to work on her anger management. Both puppets told the students that friends can be helpful.

The Quinnipiac students have been putting on various plays for three years. All the students who are involved volunteer their time. They work on the play lines and puppet movements during the fall and then take the educational outreach program to schools in the spring.

“The message we are trying to get across is that people with disabilities are just like everyone else. It’s abilities basically,” Ms O’Sullivan said. “The younger we get children to have awareness and not to be afraid of someone with a disability, whether visible or not, is very important.”

Quinnipiac University students who performed the scenarios for the students include Lisa DeLuca, Sara Zablocki, Michelle Emery, Wendy Kazimir, and Kristin Volovski.