Disability Awareness Topics

Understanding Visual Impairment
“Secret Code”

Suggested Grade Level

K, 1, 2 and 3

Overview

Told from the perspective of a child (11-year-old Renaldo Rodriguez) with a visual impairment, this program teaches kids what it is like to have a disability. He talks with his new friend, Brenda Dubrowski, about his interests and hobbies, and explains what having a visual impairment means to him. The program is informative and upbeat, focusing on how Renaldo goes about his daily routine with the help of assistive devices.

Script Scenario

When Renaldo tells time at school using his Braille watch, his friend Brenda is amazed. This curiosity leads her to ask many questions about Renaldo’s abilities. Renaldo describes Braille and explains how his learning to read with his fingers was no more difficult than it was for Brenda to learn how to read with her eyes.

Objectives

• Promote understanding and acceptance of children with visual impairments or other differences.
• Introduce children to Braille and examples of assistive devices that can make life easier and more enjoyable for someone with a physical difference, like blindness.
• Raise awareness that a person with any kind of disability or other difference may have different ways of doing things, but s/he is no different on the inside and deserves respect.
• Stress that friendship transcends physical and other differences.

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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