This year’s YPS Kids On The Block Troupe consists of Academic Tutors from Yukon High School, from left to right: Jessica Savage, Austin Ederer, Aubrey Harter, Shelby Hartgrove, Louise Dunaway, and Helping Hand Volunteer KOB Coordinators, (not pictured) Lynnita Stark and Stacey Paddock.

This semester the troupe is focusing on the counselor requested topics of Dealing With Divorce, Physical Abuse and Bullying  scripts. The National Kids On the Block website link is:  http://www.kotb.com

The Kids on the Block has developed over 40 different programs addressing various disabilities, educational and medical differences and social concerns. Each topic is thoroughly researched and field-tested before it becomes available to schools, community service organizations, hospitals and special interest groups. A complete curriculum accompanies each topic area including scripts, answers to questions children ask, background information on the topic, character biographies, resource materials, follow-up information, and continued support from the KOB National Office.

The Kids on the Block, Inc. originated in 1977 in direct response to US 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 to fill the need of children with disabilities to have their non-disabled peers understand and accept them. Through Mark Riley, the children learned about cerebral palsy and began asking questions directly to Mark. The Kids on the Block, Inc. was launched because of this enthusiastic response from the children. The Kids on the Block, now internationally acclaimed, has continued to grow over the years and offers programs on disabilities such as spina bifida and visual impairment, medical differences such as leukemia and AIDS; educational differences including learning disabilities and ADHD, and social concerns including sexual abuse prevention, and alternatives to violence.