A school hall became a classroom full of questions, and a room where laughter met learning as a puppet show helped pupils of Blackman and Gollop Primary School on Wednesday to grasp what it means to live with cerebral palsy.
Hosted by the Kiwanis Club Pride of Barbados in partnership with the Barbados Council for the Disabled, the show used colourful puppets and storytelling to help young children understand what it means to live with a disability.
According to the Operations Manager of the Barbados Council for the Disabled, Roseanna Tudor, the programme grew out of the council’s ongoing efforts to promote awareness from an early age.
“We implemented the puppetry programme as part of our Disability Awareness Day celebrations,” she explained. “It has been an essential tool for creating awareness in primary schools and nurseries so children can begin to interact with and understand other children with disabilities.”
She noted that while awareness among students is crucial, the inclusion process must also extend to teachers.
“Our role in creating awareness among children must be matched with teachers’ training,” she said. “If the teachers don’t have the tools to address the needs of children being included, then inclusion becomes a challenge.
Sensory rooms, calm spaces, and access to resources for children with ADHD or autism are necessities if we’re going to have a truly inclusive educational environment.”
The puppet show featured an engaging character named Carl, a young boy with cerebral palsy. Through the skit, students learned how the condition affects movement and coordination. Tudor used simple, relatable examples to help the children understand.
“Your brain tells your muscles to walk,” she said, “but Isabelle’s brain doesn’t send that message the same way. She might want to walk, but her muscles can’t respond. That’s why she uses a wheelchair.”
Puppeteers, including Joy-Ann Grazette-Corbin, answered the students’ questions, telling how children with disabilities can still swim, play, and participate fully in life with the right support.
Teacher of Infants A Pearl, Sheldene Williams, said having a student with cerebral palsy in her class has been a learning experience for everyone.
“At our school, we believe every child deserves a place where they feel seen, supported, and valued,” she said. “Inclusion is something we practice every day. One of our students, Isabelle, is friendly, always smiling, and eager to learn. Her classmates help her with pushing her around the school, sit with her at lunch, and make sure she’s part of every activity.”
She said the partnership with the Barbados Council for the Disabled and the Kiwanis Club was a natural one.
“Puppetry is such an engaging way for young children to learn about acceptance and kindness,” Williams added. “Through Isabelle, our students are learning that everyone, no matter their ability, has something special to offer.”
The Barbados Council for the Disabled plans to continue bringing the puppetry shows to more schools across the island.
“We already have a few schools earmarked,” said Tudor. “The response this morning has been so positive, and we’re excited to see the wheels keep rolling.”
(LE)
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