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 >>
>