Mark Riley loves to show Darren Stroupe how to do “wheelies” in his
cruiser, and Stroupe loves introducing Mark to his friends.
For the past eight years, the red-haired pals have visited thousands
of first- through sixth-graders in and around Omaha to talk about disabilities.
Mark, who calls his wheelchair his “cruiser,” has cerebral palsy. Stroupe
is his puppeteer.
The two are part of Kids On The Block, an internationally acclaimed
program that uses puppets to help students accept differences in themselves
and others, as well as educate them about health and social concerns that
affect their lives.
Stroupe and puppeteers Leanne Robey, Kelley McCormack and Nicole Giron,
all of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute,
bring to life Mark, Brenda, Renaldo, Melody, Anna and Jennifer as they
discuss such topics as cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, visual and hearing
impairments, learning disabilities, spina bifida, attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder, cancer, asthma, organ donation and transplantation, alcohol and
tobacco prevention and problem solving.
In all, 27 handmade puppets 3 to 4 feet tall live in the Munroe-Meyer
Institute making UNMC’s troupe one of the 10 largest in the country.
The group will be joined later this summer by the newest puppets: Shane
Davis, who has muscular dystrophy, and his sister Carrie.
“The kids have a wonderful reaction to the puppets,” said McCormack,
a recreational therapist at MMI. “Some get so caught up in the show that
they don’t realize they’re talking to puppets.”
Kids On The Block use “hand and rod” puppets, based on the Japanese
style of puppetry called Bunraku (pronounced boon-rah-koo). The puppeteer’s
one hand works the mouth of the puppet, while the other hand manipulates
the rod for gestures. Some of the puppets have a disability and use aids,
such as a wheelchair or cane, to make their character distinct and realistic.
UNMC’s Kids On The Block is supported by the Hattie B. Munroe Foundation
and the Munroe-Meyer Operating Board, both of which help with the purchase
of puppets and scripts.
“The children ask the puppets questions they might not ask us,” Robey
said. “Some of them forget we’re even there.”
In past performances, children have wondered how Mark goes to the bathroom
if he’s in a wheelchair and how Renaldo eats and dreams if he’s blind.
“How do you know where your food is on your plate if you can’t see it?”
one fourth-grade boy recently asked Renaldo.
“My mom puts my food on my plate like it is a clock,” Renaldo says.
“I know what a clock looks like and how the numbers are arranged. My hamburger
is at 12:00, my fries are at 4:00 and my salad is at 8:00.”
Sometimes the children share stories, feelings, secrets. One boy invited
the puppet to play at his house. Another one disclosed that his father
hit his mother.
The troupe generally performs on Tuesdays, as well as at the annual
KidzExplore event in Omaha. There is no charge for the performance; the
troupe charges only for their mileage.
Cindy McGeary, a first-grade teacher at Picotte Elementary School in
Omaha, called Kids On The Block when she had students with Down’s syndrome
and spina bifida join her classroom.
“We wanted our students to know that students with disabilities are
like us in so many ways,” she said. “The children learn more about the
disability from the puppet’s perspective. It’s also easier for them to
ask questions and they relate better to others who have disabilities.”
McCormack agreed. “Kids On The Block opens doors and provides information
in a non-threatening, fun way. It’s safe to share with another child and
that’s what they see in the puppets.”
Anyone interested in learning more about Kids On The Block, or scheduling
a performance, should call 559-3018.
Kids On The Block, Inc., originated in 1977 in direct response to U.S.
public law 94-142, which required that children with disabilities be educated
in the least restrictive environment. For many children, this meant being
included in a classroom with their non-disabled peers.
Mark Riley, who represents a child with cerebral palsy, was the first
puppet character created. Today, there are thousands of Kids On The Block
programs throughout the 50 states and in more than 27 countries including
Israel, Canada, the Philippines, New Zealand, Brazil, Ireland, Japan and
Poland.
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