Regular Features...
Kids on Your Block ...and Around the World
Meet Some of the Kids on the
Block -
|
Justin Campbell
News from KOB HeadquartersFrom the President's Desk...There were many landmark events in 1977. A little film called Star Wars was one of the box office champions of the summer. Shocking news came from the entertainment industry as Elvis Presley’s death sent fans into mourning. A police task force was hunting for the serial killer "Son of Sam," who would appear out of nowhere, shoot his victims and mysteriously vanish. Television viewers were tuning in to re-live an old war–the Korean War–while watching the exploits of B.J. Hunnicut, "Hawkeye" Pierce, Margaret "Hotlips" Houlihan and "Radar" O’Reilly on M*A*S*H. A different Riley was also making a name for himself in 1977. Twenty-five years ago, a special education teacher named Barbara Aiello was helping prepare her students for the implementation of U.S. Public Law 94-142. Under this new law, children with disabilities were going to be included in neighborhood schools for the first time. Although educators were hopeful, few truly knew what to expect. Children raised with the all too common belief that one should not notice or question another’s difference were ill-prepared to accept a peer with a disability. The first Kid on the Block, Mark Riley, was created in an attempt to bridge the communication gap between children with disabilities and those without. Mark Riley was the seed, if you will, from which the Kids on the Block family tree grew. Within a year, what began as a single puppet kid speaking to a class of fifth graders about cerebral palsy grew into a corporation providing a forum for children to find answers to tough questions. Many things have changed in 25 years. Public Law 94-142 evolved into the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) brought inclusion from the classroom to the boardroom. Technology has made communication easier for people with and without disabilities. But as much as things change, some things remain the same. This year, a “little film” called Star Wars, the first major motion picture to be shot entirely in a digital medium, was a summer box office champion. Shocking news came from the entertainment industry as Elvis Presley’s album debuted at number one on Billboard's Album Chart, sending fans into celebration. A police task force was hunting for the "Beltway Sniper," who would appear out of nowhere, shoot his victims and mysteriously vanish. Television viewers tune in to re-live an old war–the Gulf War–while watching the exploits of a president named Bush and a dictator named Hussein on C.N.N. as we all consider the ramifications of a new war in the gulf. Today children still have tough questions. The desire to answer those questions still drives the staff of KOB, Inc. and the thousands of volunteers around the world who are committed to improving the lives of children. As we take a moment to commemorate our combined accomplishments over the years, let’s also look toward the future at the countless children we’ve yet to reach. To all of our KOB affiliates... thank you for making 25 years a reality, but most of all, thank you for touching the lives of so many children. Aric-James Darroe
|
Last changed:
|