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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. Now
internationally acclaimed, Kids on the Block has continued to grow over
the years and offers programs on disabilities such as spina bifida and
visual impairment, medical differences such as childhood cancer and
HIV/AIDS; educational differences including learning disabilities and
ADHD, and social concerns including sexual abuse prevention, and
alternatives to violence.
Kids First is proud to be one of these troupes.