About the Puppets: Who Are We?
Renaldo Rodriguez:
Hello Kids My name is Renaldo, and I’m part of the Kids on the Block team. I sure love coming to visit your schools and seeing you guys. Want to know a little more about me? Well, I’m 11 years old and I have a brother named Josue, and a cat. I’m outgoing, and I love to be outside playing, and I love sports especially baseball, and playing checkers with my brother. My friends say that I am very funny and that I have a good attitude. I sometimes use a white cane when I am outside, to help me around an unfamiliar area. I learned to use it when I went to mobility school. See, the whole reason I use the white cane is because I was born early, and because of that I am blind. Now kids, don’t think that every baby born early is going to be blind. It is just something that happens to some babies. Now, you might be wondering about why I don’t have a seeing dog with me like you have seen other people who are blind use. Well, the truth is that I am really comfortable just using my white cane. Don’t get me wrong though, I do want a dog. I just want one though that I can play Frisbee with because I have tried to play catch with my cat, but she never seems to understand what she is supposed to do. So as you can see, I can do the same things that you kids do, I just do them in a different way. I hope that you have learned a lot about me today, but if you have any questions, send me an e-mail. Bye for now, and I look forward to seeing you kids again soon.
Melody James:
Hey Kids, great to see you all! I had so much fun talking with you…and I’m glad that you came to see me and my friends here at the Kids on the Block. Now that you are a here, I’ll tell you a little more about myself. I, like Renaldo, am 11 years old. You may know my brother, Shaun James. He is only one of my 4 brothers. Can you believe that? I have 4 of them (YUCK!). I get along with all of them, even though they say that I’m stubborn sometimes. When I’m not hanging out with my brother Shaun, I love to spend time roller skating, and I also take ballet lessons (which I just love I spend a lot of time with Shaun though, because he sometimes is sad, and not feeling like hanging out with his friends, so I help him out as much as I can. It’s sometimes hard for me to understand why Shaun feels the way he does, and why he doesn’t want to do things with me or my other brothers. But I do talk to him sometimes, and he let’s me know how he is feeling, which is important because I love Shaun very much. Do you guys have any brother’s or sisters? How many do you have? Are you a big brother or sister? Or the little brother or sister? If you do or have any other questions for me just e-mail me, and let me know if you have a brother or sister who gets sad sometimes, and tell me what you do or say to cheer them up. Well, I have to go back to practicing ballet now, but I really do hope that I hear from you soon. Take care for now. Bye Bye!
Jimmy Randolph:
Hey kids, my name's Jimmy. I’m sure glad that you came to see me here at the Kids on the Block club. I am not the type of kid to have everyone know everything about me, but if you like I will tell you a little bit about something I struggle with in school, and a little bit about my disability if you like. Ever since I started school, my teachers along with my parents have had me learning in the resource room, which you probably have at your school. The reason for me being in the resource room at school is because sometimes I have a hard time knowing when I am being rude, and when I am disrupting the classroom. In the resource room I work with teachers who help me to set boundaries for myself, using a reward system. Sometimes the other kids in my classroom and at my school have a hard time understanding why I act the way I do. For example some day’s I feel happy and friendly, and other days I don’t want to talk to anyone, and I just want to be alone. There are also days when I feel very angry, but with the help of my parents, and teachers I have learned ways to calm myself down. Lucky for me I also have some awesome friends who know why I act the way that I do, and they are more than happy to help explain the reasons to others in my school, and classroom.
Shaun James:
Shaun James is a 16 year old boy. He lives with his mom and dad, three brothers, and sister Melody. Shaun has clinical depression as an onset from the death of his brother who passed away due to a bad care accident. After Shaun’s brother passed away, he became shy and quiet, refusing to speak with anyone about how he was feeling. Before the incident, Shaun was a straight “A” student. He was considered always the life of the party, and had a good sense of humor. A few months later though, Shaun started refusing phone calls (even from his best friend). He would blow off his best friends when they came to the door to, by having his sister Melody tell them that he was sick. His parent’s thought that he would just “snap” out of it but he didn’t. One night Shaun was watching t.v. and saw a PSA (public service ad) for the local Mental Health Association, with a toll free number to call. He talked the idea over with his parents, and they all decided that it was a good idea, and that Shaun should call the number. Shaun talked to a counselor about what was happening and how he was feeling. The counselor even talked to Shaun’s parents about what was happening and how he was feeling. The counselor even talked to Shaun and his parent’s about what was going to happen and how to get Shaun some help. Shaun sees a therapist who talk’s with him every other week. He attends a group for young kids who are experiencing depression. In these sessions, he sets goals for himself, and follows through. “I am feeling a lot better now and some days I feel pretty good. Now I know that if a person if feeling sad, angry, or even numb for a really long time- and those feelings will not go away, then he or she needs to reach out and talk to someone. I’m glad I decided to get some help”.
Brenda Dubrowski:
Brenda Dubrowski is also in many K.O.B programs and is featured in the program on divorce. Brenda’s parents are divorced and she has gone through many changes in her life as a result. She lives with her mother and sees her father on Wednesday nights and every other weekend. At first Brenda went through a very difficult time adjusting to these changes. Both she and he family participated in counseling sessions at the mental health center. Her counselor, Lisa, helped Brenda communicate her feelings about the divorce to her parents. Through Brenda, children in the audience have insight into coping skills necessary to survive a difficult situation. Brenda also plays an important role in this program as she asks candid and open questions to Anna Perry about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Brenda learns about ADHD and attains a better understanding of Anna. Brenda is a lively character who sometimes lets her enthusiasm get the best of her. She loves to be the center of attention and enjoys singing (even if it’s off key). Brenda has a very special dog named Muffy and loves to take pictures of her when she sits still long enough for the camera.
Jennifer Hauser:
In first grade I began to have trouble learning how to read and write. I had a hard time keeping up with the rest of the kids in my class. I became very frustrated and I did not want to go to school anymore. I was always trying as hard as I could, it’s just that what I thought was right usually came out wrong! My first grade teacher noticed that I was having problems learning in class but knew that my difficulties were not because I was lazy or because I was not trying. My teacher talked to my parents and told them that I should be tested for a possible learning disability. My parents were a little scared because they were scared that my learning problems were because they were doing something wrong at home. But later on they realized that it didn’t really matter how or why I had a learning disability. I was told that I have what they call VPP, which is when I see something on the sheet of paper and the words turn upside down, or sideways. I know that VPP actually stands for Very Pretty Person, which I think I am. It was important for me to get the help I needed in school in order become the best I could be. Now, my teachers have made a special plan for me and my school work, and when I work with my resource teacher I believe that I am really learning a lot, because she teaches me the way I learn best. When I’m not at school I love to play soccer and listening to music. I don’t have to worry about any one bugging me at home either, because I don’t have any brother’s or sisters. I do try and help around the house doing chores, and I also try to help get supper started because my mom and dad work late sometimes. My favorite food that I love the most to cook is cinnamon toast, and celery with peanut butter on it. Do any of you like those too? Even though I have a learning disability, that’s okay because it just means that I learn in a different way, but that I am able to learn everything you do as well.
Ellen Jane Peterson:
Ellen Jane is 17 years old and has Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome is a developmental disability which usually causes delays in physical and intellectual development, but there are a wide range of cognitive abilities in children with Down Syndrome. When Ellen Jane was born, her parents were informed that their daughter would have some degree of mental retardation and that they would need to be patient and supportive. From the time she was a baby, she received help from professionals. She was enrolled in an early intervention program where teachers and therapists taught her and played with her. With this help, Ellen Jane had learned many of the same things that other children her age learn, only at a slower pace. Ellen Jane explains, “All Down Syndrome means is that it takes me a long time to learn things”. When Ellen Jane attended her neighborhood elementary school, she spent most of the day in the regular education classroom. The rest of the day she spent in a resource room, reinforcing basic academic skills. Ellen Jane also worked with a speech and language therapist once a day in order to improve her communication skills. Ellen Jane’s unique personality became more evident and her capabilities and talents became more distinct. She showed interest and participated in many diver activities, including joining the Girl Scouts, and going to camp. Ellen Jane is now 17, and is in a transitional program in high school. This program is designed so that she develops practical life skills, and social skills. She spends part of her day in a special education classroom and her regular education elective courses. Two afternoons per week she spends time learning practical life skills such as grocery shopping and how to use public transportation. Ellen Jane will be the first to tell you that having Down Syndrome can be a little frustrating, especially when she has trouble doing or learning something. One example is her younger brother, Jeffery. He is much better at reading than Ellen Jane, and sometimes she finds this frustrating, but she reminds herself that everyone learns at a different speed. She just does the best she can.
Anna Perry
Anna’s parents, Fred and Emily Perry, were very excited when Anna came into their lives. They had been trying for two years to adopt a baby when they began working with an international adoption agency. When Anna was three months old, she came from an adoption agency in South Korea to the United States and began her new life as a member of the Perry family.
As a toddler, Anna was into everything. Most two year olds are very active, but Anna was exhausting. Even the day care teacher would tell Anna’s parents, “Your daughter is cute but she sure is a bundle of energy!”
When Anna was four, it became apparent that there was more to Anna’s behavior that just a lot of extra energy. In her preschool, she would run around the room and climb on the furniture. She began disrupting her play group by always taking other children’s toys. As Anna’s mom explained, “Anna was a joyful child but she was constantly moving and getting into everything all at once. As a parent, I didn’t feel like I had any control.”
When Anna began first grade, the difference became even more obvious. Although Anna was very intelligent and was progressing rapidly in school, her parents were constantly receiving phone calls or notes from the teacher saying that Anna would not pay attention in class and was disruptive. Although her parents spoke to her frequently about her behavior and gave her a lot of “time out,” Anna’s situation didn’t change.
At the beginning of second grade, Anna’s teacher, Mr. Lombardi, noticed Anna’s problems right away. He called her parents in for a parent teacher conference and explained that Anna had a lot of the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Anna’s parents were confused about this term but gave their permission for Anna to be evaluated. As Fred Perry, Anna’s father explained, “We were so frustrated and exhausted we were ready to try anything.”
After several tests, including a medical history, a medical examination, observations of Anna at home and in the classroom, and behavior assessment, Anna was diagnosed with ADHD. Once Anna and her parents realized she had ADHD, many things in their lives began to improve. At school, a special team of school professionals and Anna’s parents put together an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for Anna. This plan outlines specific strategies designed to assist Anna with her school work and to help improve her social skills.
The evaluation team, which included Anna’s pediatrician, all felt that medication would be appropriate for Anna. Her parents were nervous about this, but after doing a lot of research and speaking extensively with the doctor, they agreed to try it. As Anna says now, “My medication is just like a pair of eye glasses, it helps me to focus on my work!”
Anna is now 11 and is in the 5th grade. She is continuously learning new ways to cope with her difference, ADHD. Several times a month, she meets with the school.
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