Featuring Renaldo Rodriguez	"There are lots of things you do that surprised me, Renaldo!" Mark exclaims in the script Campers.  Renaldo is quick to explain that having a disability won't deter him from making accomplishments in life.  People with visual impairments include inventors, artists, teachers, Olympic athletes, cartoonists, composers, mountain climbers, musicians, authors and politicians.  As Renaldo experiences, often others have misconceptions about the abilities of people with visual impairments.  Like Mark, many people are surprised to learn how Renaldo reads, puts on his clothes, plays sports and gets around independently using his prescription cane.  This KOB program allows educators and advocates to use the exciting medium of live puppet theatre to teach children about the abilities of their peers with visual impairments and other differences.
About the Program	PROGRAM OBJECTIVE The Kids on the Block Program on Visual Impairment was developed to promote sensitivity and acceptance of children with visual impairments.  This curriculum is an educational tool designed to familiarize children with disabilities, nurture children's curiosity by encouraging them to talk with their peers who may be different from them, teach children that people with disabilities are more like them than different, and like anyone else, people with disabilities will ask for help if and when it is needed.  Audiences take away the message that although another child may be blind, he or she does many of the same things his or her friends do, only in a different way. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION This program contains four scripts which focus on different aspects of blindness and are intended for children in grades K - 5.   Click here to read the script summaries for the program on visual impairment...
Meet Renaldo	RENALDO RODRIGUEZ Renaldo Rodriguez is 11 years old and attends his neighborhood school, Woodburn Elementary.  Renaldo's blindness is the result of a premature birth.  Renaldo wears glasses to help him see the outline of very large shapes and shadows.  He also uses a cane to get around in unfamiliar places; he learned how to use it at mobility school.  Renaldo, like any other fifth grader, has likes and dislikes.  He loves sports, especially baseball, and beating his brother Josue at checkers.  He dislikes when people treat him differently just because he is blind.  Renaldo's loves sharing his great sense of humor and healthy, positive attitude with those he encounters.  Renaldo says, “I'm really proud to be me, Renaldo Rodriguez.  Being blind is just part of who I am and it's only a big deal if I let it be.”  Renaldo also appears as a supporting character in the programs on being the child of divorced parents, Down syndrome, emotional disturbance, fire safety and gifted and talented.
Meet the Supporting Cast	BRENDA DUBROWSKI Brenda asks candid and open questions to Renaldo about blindness.  She is excited to learn about his difference and discovers that Renaldo is very capable and independent.  Brenda is the featured character in the program on being the child of divorced parents. MELODY JAMES Because her older brothers are often "trying to help" Melody, she understands Renaldo's frustrations with Brenda's unsolicited help.  Her sensitive nature serves as a role model for the audience.  Melody is a featured character in the program on children's mental health. MARK RILEY Mark has a positive attitude about his own disability, but demonstrates a bit of confusion about Renaldo's.  During Mark's interaction with Renaldo, the audience learns more about Renaldo's disability and how his blindness doesn't stop him from doing the things he likes to do!  Mark is the featured character in the program on cerebral palsy.
Proven Program Success	My name is Alison and I am 20 years old.  To start off with I would like to tell you that your company is wonderful.  I first encountered it when I was about 7 years old, at this time I had just lost the majority of my sight due to a tumor on my optic nerve.  Your company came to my school that I was at at the time.  The ‘puppets’ made me feel comfortable with myself and made me feel that I was not alone.  I am sure that your company has made many differences in many other peoples lives. Alison McCoubrey, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada Dear Kids on the Block Staff     On behalf of Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind and the children who attended Camp Lighthouse 2002, I want to thank you for once again providing us with an inspiring puppet performance.  The children found the program to be very interesting and learned a great deal about being understanding and more appreciative of differences and social concerns. Antoine Johnson, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, Washington, D.C.