posted October 9, 2008
) Mark Riley, signature puppet, featured in the Accepting Differences program. Performer, Azusa Dance. |
The “Accepting Differences” program was the first puppet program performed by Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block in 1979. This program features Mark Riley, an eleven-year-old kid who was born with cerebral palsy and cruises around in his wheelchair and his friend, Renaldo Rodriguez, who is blind.
This program is an educational tool developed to help familiarize children with disabilities, teach children that people with disabilities are more like them than different and to educate children about appropriate ways to “help” children who are blind or have cerebral palsy.
Kids on the Block was created in 1977 in response to The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. This act was approved in 1977 and mandates that “children with disabilities are educated with children who are not disabled." Kids on the Block was created in order to educate non-disabled students about their new classmates in a non-threatening way.
For the past 29 years, Chattanooga's Kids on the Block has featured, through the art of Bunraku puppetry, life-sized puppets designed to teach children and adults about social concerns and differences giving them the skills to stay safe and healthy.
Chattanooga's Kids on the Block, one of the most active troupes in the country, serves twelve counties in Tennessee and North Georgia. Last year CKOB performed the “Accepting Differences” program to over 8,200 people and presented 52 programs.
Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block receives funding from United Way, Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, Unum, Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee, Chattanooga-Hamilton County, Ronald McDonald, Chattanooga Area Brain Injury Association, Tennessee Donor Services, individual donors and fundraising events.
For more information or to schedule the Accepting Differences puppet program, call the CKOB office at 423 757-5259.
| Dining Out | Business | Movies | Focus | About Us |
| Church | Living Well | Memories | Outdoors | Real Estate | Student Scene | Travel |