See a Problem?

The experience taught me many things. Yes, my son is on his own in the batting cage from now on! But it also made me realise the inextricable link between the opinion of others and our own self-image. We are, to a certain extent, comprised of how others see us. Both my friend and her daughter have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease , a progressive peripheral neuropathy that impacts mobility.

Young Grace had on her new leg braces, having been recently told she should start wearing them full-time. So, at nine years old, she had undergone a tremendous transformation.

Arlene on the Scene: disability and children’s books

What would that do to her self-image? Would she remain powerful and empowered, despite the stares and the well-intentioned sympathy she might receive from others? Thus began an incredibly fun collaboration between myself, my friend Marybeth Caldarone, and her wonderful daughter Grace, and the result is the book Arlene On the Scene , soon to become a series with the sequel due out in the spring of Ours was a lofty goal: Can we transform, in our own minds, disability as difference, akin to race, religion, culture, personality, favourite topping on a pizza?


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It seems worth a try. I now visit primary schools across the country and use the book as a launching pad to talk honestly about how we view disability, and how we can view it differently. I find it helpful to first bring to the surface our own reactions toward those who are different from us or who have different abilities. Then I explore with the kids the difference between sympathy and empathy, a key concept.


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  • Arlene on the Scene by Carol Liu.
  • Sympathy can sometimes create distance, I tell students. I show the kids how to practice empathy and apply it to everyday situations, starting first with the fictional character Arlene, just to get used to it before we turn our attention to each other for real.

    I nominated you because unlike other blogs yours shined and stood out, It had amazing presentation and the posts where all ones I could relate to. To find out more click the link back to my blog and I will advice you of what to do next…. Hi this one of the girls who asked to do a movie about Arlene on the scene. My co-directer and I Olivia and me Addison are very excited to make the movie.

    Quiet Ann & Arlene

    We have not yet read the book because of school reading assignments. We are at almost the bottom of the waiting list of the book in the library. When we get the book we are going to read the book like there is no tomorrow.

    See a Problem?

    I would love to do research on the the sickness so the movie is more accurate. Also, in the credits is going to be your name of course! Addison—thanks so much for your comment and your commitment to the cause! We so appreciate your support. Hope you get to read the books soon. School does come first though.

    Arlene on the Scene by Carol Liu

    Maybe your school will get a few more copies, or maybe your public library could get it. Let me know what you think after you read it, and thanks in advance for the mention in the movie credits! My Third Grade class and I just finished the book today. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email. Notify me of new posts via email. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Home [ For the latest news, pictures and posts, check out our Author Blog! Sincerely, Addison Enloe Reply.