Disability Awareness Topics

Learning about Intellectual Disabilities
“Who’s George?”

Suggested Grade Level

1, 2, and 3

Overview:

This program teaches kids that sometimes people are afraid of and make prejudgments about someone else because s/he appears to be “different.” The main character in "Who’s George?", 17-year-old Ellen Jane Peterson, has Down Syndrome, but she lives a normal life, attending her neighborhood high school and working at an animal hospital where she assists the veterinarian. She helps dispel myths about what it means to have a disability.

Script Scenario

Melody James is surprised that her friend Ellen has a pet snake named George. Melody is afraid to touch the snake but changes her mind after Ellen explains that snakes are smooth, not slimy, like many people believe. This interaction triggers a conversation about not being afraid of someone just because they are different from you. Ellen says, “Well some people are afraid of snakes ‘cause they don’t know anything about them. Just like some people are afraid of other people who are a little different.”

Objectives

• Raise awareness and promote understanding and acceptance of those with physical and intellectual differences.
• Dispel stereotypes and myths about people with disabilities.

Format

This 30-minute program consists of a scripted-story puppet presentation, followed by a guided question and answer session. During the Q & A time, the puppets reinforce learning objectives and encourage children to share their questions and concerns. To extend learning and repeat key lessons, all children receive a take-home Kids on the Block bookmark imprinted with the program’s messages, and they are encouraged to write letters or emails to the puppets.

To help Kids on the Block improve our programs, teachers are asked to complete a short program evaluation form.

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