Hi All ,
I must have missed the original post. What date was it posted on?
The weekend before Thanksgiving , we had two adopted kids here at my home
from Romania. One was 4 1/2 and the other one was 2 1/2. They were scared
of me. Finally what was said to them was "her body is broken". As I recall
correctly one of them asked about getting better. Somebody answered them
yes. After they went to bed , I cornered my parents and they told me that
it is possible!
Kathy
----- Original Message -----
From: Anee Stanford <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 1999 10:06 AM
Subject: Re: Talking to kids about disability
> Hi All-
>
> I recently did a disability awarness presentation for a group of 1st - 5th
> graders that my friend Anne teaches. She asked me to do this because one
of
> the students in her class has spina bifida and a low self esteem problem
and
> she thought it would help him to see someone who was disabled and out in
the
> world doing things. I have done these type of education days/presentations
> before but always with older kids. This was my first time with the young
> ones.
>
> It was a very positive experience. Of course the first questions out of
> there mouths after Anne introduced me were 1) why do you walk funny and 2)
> why can't you stay still? And they were asking my friend this and not me.
> Then my friend said "why don't you ask her" so they did.
>
> I preceded to explain that I had what was called Cerebral Palsy and that
> means that part of my brain has been damaged and dosn't work anymore. I
> explained to them that having a disability is not like being sick (which
was
> one of there questions) it was more along the lines of having to were
glasses
> or having a cast for a broken bone (something they can relate to). Some
of
> them had grandparents who were disabled and we talked about that. I told
> them about some of the famous people who have disablities.
>
> I also told the kids that I might not be able to do a lot of spots--like I
> can't jump or run-- but I like to do alot of the same things that they
like
> to do. I told them that I like to eat french fries and watch movies and
surf
> the internet and collect bennie babies. One of them asked me if I was in
to
> Pokemon and I replied "No, I have yet to figure those guys out whould
someone
> like to explain them to me?" and then we all laughed.
>
> I told them about the wheechair sports leges and about adapted sking and
> about the diffrence in the Paraolympics and the Special Olympics
> .
> I also explained to them about sometimes if you ask a disabled person
"Can I
> help you with that" that sometimes the disabled person will say "no" and
that
> this was because the person wanted to be indipendent and could do that
> activiety for themselves and that was impotrant to them. I also told them
> that if a person needs help they will ask. But I then told them that it
is
> ok to ask a person if they need help...but just respect them if/when they
say
> no.
>
> I also told them that it was ok to ask people questions about disability
as
> long as they are polite about it--which I think it is.
>
> We also did a simulation activity were they had to hold a pice of paper on
> the foreheads and write there name. (This was only a 20 minute
presentation
> so I didn't do anything more involved.) But this seemed to oppen there
eyes a
> bit. I explaied that it took me 2 to 3 times what it would take them to
> finish my school work.
>
> I also showed them a sample of one of my large print textbooks as I was
> explaining about visual disabilities.
>
> All and all I think the whole thing went very well and a lot was gained on
> both sides from the exchange. I think it is very important to do stuff
like
> this.
>
> Yours,
> Anee
> Webmaster of CPIC
> http://www.geocities.com/aneecp/
>
> In a message dated 12/6/1999 9:58:07 PM Central Standard Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> <<
> Here's a somewhat comical story related to how I explain my cp to
> kids...Keep in mind I have taught ages 5-13...
>
> I usually tell kids that the part of my brain that controls my muscles
> in my legs was damaged when I was born and that makes my legs less
> flexible than the average person. Then I give them something they can
> relate to...I always told them that, for example, I couldn't touch my
> toes without bending my knees (as I proceed to illustrate). They end up
> bending and touching their toes, feel the stretch and then there is this
> "Ahhhh, I get it!" exchange.
>
> Funny thing is, that since I had the hamstring lengthening surgery this
> summer, I CAN touch my toes without bending my knees, so my story has
> had to change a bit. I shared this fact with one of my former students
> before school started and she said, "Don't worry, Miss Wagner, if anyone
> doesn't believe that you used to not be able to do that, I'll tell them
> you're not lying!" We both giggled at that!
>
> Something else, I've done a health fair day with the entire grade level
> and had speakers come in to talk about nutrition, body systems etc., and
> I always do my own session on CP and make kids walk with a wooden block
> between their knees to see what it feels like and how much more tiring
> it is. It sure generates great discussion!
>
> Linda >>
>
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