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>>> THIS IS FOX40 IN FOCUS, AN
IN DEPTH LOOK AT THE ISSUES YOU
TOLD US MATTER MOST.
>> WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION
OF FOX40'S IN FOCUS.
I'M YOUR HOST, LONNIE WONG.
WE'RE HERE AT EUREKA SCHOOL AT
GRANITE BAY AND THIS IS WHERE
PARENTS EXPECT THEIR KIDS TO
LEARN THE BASICS, BUT MORE AND
MORE PARENTS ALSO EXPECT
SCHOOLS TO TEACH THEIR KIDS
SOCIAL SKILLS AND THAT'S WHERE
A UNIQUE PROGRAM CALLED A TOUCH
OF UNDERSTANDING COMES IN.
WE'RE NOW IN THE GYM OF EUREKA
SCHOOL AND HERE TALKING WITH
THE FOUNDER OF TOUCH OF
UNDERSTANDING, LESLIE TADORA.
TELL US ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
>> TOUCH OF UNDERSTANDING IS A
DISABILITY AWARENESS PROGRAM
THAT ALLOWS SCHOOLCHILDREN TO
HAVE A HANDS ON OPPORTUNITY TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
HAVE A DISABILITY.
THEY GET TO DO A LOT OF
ACTIVITIES AND THEN THEY MEET
PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES
WHO SHARE THEIR INSIGHT AND
EXPERIENCES.
>> WHAT -- WHY DO YOU THINK
YOUNG PEOPLE NEED THIS KIND OF
EXPOSURE?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S JUST
YOUNG PEOPLE.
I THINK EVERYBODY CAN TEND TO
BE A LITTLE FRIGHTENED ABOUT
WHAT THEY'RE UNFAMILIAR WITH
AND SO ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PERHAPS INTERACT WITH PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES CAN BE AFRAID.
SOME CHILDREN FEAR THAT THEY
MIGHT CATCH THE DISABILITY OR
SOME ARE JUST FRAYED OF
SOMETHING THAT SEEMS SO
DIFFERENT -- AFRAID OF
SOMETHING THAT SEEMS SO
DIFFERENT OR AFRAID THE
ARTIFICIAL ARM OR THE LEG AND
WITH A TOUCH OF UNDERSTANDING
WHEN THEY HELPER IT'S SIMPLY A
TOOL -- THEY LEARN IT'S SIMPLY
A TOOL PEOPLE USE THE FEAR IS
GONE AND IT'S REPLACED WITH THE
RESPECT IT TAKES TO USE THAT
SKILL.
>> SOMETIMES THAT FEAR
MANIFESTS IN ITSELF MOCKING
BEHAVIOR ORPIKING ON KIDS OR
NOT -- OR PICKING ON KIDS OR
NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE
PERSON WITH THE DISABILITY.
>> THAT'S VERY TRUE.
WE WERE CALLED TO A SCHOOL IN A
LOCAL AREA BY A MOM WHO FOUND
THAT HER SON WITH MUSCULAR
DYSTROPHY WHO WAS LOSING THE
ABILITY TO WALK LIKE HIS PEERS,
THIS LITTLE 3rd GRADE BOY WAS
FOUND HIDING BEHIND A GARBAGE
DUMPSTER AT RECESS BECAUSE HE
WAS TEASED SO BADLY AND IT
WASN'T OUT OF BEING TERRIBLY
MEAN.
SHE JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT
AS THEY WERE GETTING STRONGER
HE WAS GETTING WEAKER DUE TO
HIS ILLNESS.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE
THIS PROGRAM ISN'T JUST ABOUT
LECTURING, ALTHOUGH YOU DO
THAT, TOO SPEAK WITH CHILDREN
ON A ONE TO ONE BASIS BUT YOU
TRY TO MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT BY
THIS HANDS ON EXPERIENCE.
>> THAT'S VERY TRUE AND
ACTUALLY THIS SCHOOL WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT 5th GRADERS AND
MANY OF THESE STUDENTS WENT
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IN 2nd
GRADE WHICH IS THREE YEARS AGO
AND A LOT OF THEM REMEMBER
THINGS THAT I SAID WORD FOR
WORD.
THE REASON WE'RE BACK HERE
DOING THIS IS TO REINFORCE THIS
MESSAGE BEFORE THEY GO TO
JUNIOR HIGH WHEN A LOT OF TIMES
IT'S A TIME FOR STUDENTS TO
FEEL VERY VULNERABLE THEMSELVES
AND SO THAT'S WHEN THEY TEND TO
ACT OUT IN WAYS THEY'RE UNKIND
TO OTHERS.
>> LET'S GO OVER HERE AT ONE OF
THE STATIONS THAT YOU INTRODUCE
KIDS TO AND WHAT ARE WE LOOKING
AT HERE?
>> AT THIS STATION THE STUDENTS
ARE BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH
BRACES AND ARTIFICIAL ARMS AND
LEGS AND THIS IS A STATION
WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE
SOMETIMES QUITE REPULSED WHEN
THEY FIRST SEE THE ARTIFICIAL
ARMS AND LEGS AND ESPECIALLY
THE HOOK BECAUSE THEY KIND OF
CONNECT IT WITH CAPTAIN HOOK
AND A FEAR.
>> IF YOU'D LIKE TO FEEL HOW
STRONG THIS HOOK IT, JUST HOLD
YOUR HAND OUT LIKE THAT.
>> BY THE TIME THEY'RE DONE
LEARNING HOW ALL THESE TOOLS
WORK THEY HAVE A RESPECT FOR
HOW THE TOOLS ARE CONSTRUCTED
AND HOW HELPFUL THEY ARE TO
ALLOW PEOPLE TO ACCOMPLISH
THEIR GOALS.
>> NOW WE HAVE AN ARRAY OF
PROSTHETICS HERE AND THEY LOOK
KIND OF STRANGE BUT THIS IS
DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WOULD
CATCH THE ATTENTION OF KIDS AND
HAVE THEM REMEMBER A LESSON
LIKE THIS.
>> THEY DEFINITELY DO AND
WHAT'S REALLY NICE IS THAT THEY
CAN LEARN ABOUT THESE WHEN NO
ONE IS ACTUALLY USING THEM. SO
WHEN THEY ASK THE QUESTIONS, NO
ONE'S FEELINGS ARE HURT BY THE
FACT THAT CHILDREN SOMETIMES
FIND THESE VERY UPSETTING.
THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT THEM AT A
TIME AND ASK QUESTIONS WHEN
THERE'S NOT ANYONE, YOU KNOW,
WHO ACTUALLY IS DEPENDENT UPON
THAT TOOL.
>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT
SOME OF THE OTHER STATIONS HERE.
YOU HAVE SOME KIDS SITTING OVER
HERE IN FRONT OF WHAT LOOKS
LIKE A MIRROR.
>> YESFUL THEY'RE DOING A
MIRROR WRITING ACTIVITY TO
UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION OF A
LEARNING DISABILITY.
SO WHAT THE MIRROR IS DOING IS
MIXING THE MESSAGES UP IN THEIR
BRAIN.
IF YOU'VE EVER TRIED TO CUT
YOUR HAIR BY LOOKING IN A
MIRROR, YOU WOULD KNOW THINGS
GET REALLY CONFUSING AND SO THE
KIDS ARE JUST TRYING TO
COMPLETE A DITTO BY LOOKING IN
THE MIRROR AND WE'VE HAD
CHILDREN SAY MR., YOU'RE
HURTING MY BRAIN WHEN THEY'RE
TRYING TO DO THIS AND WE'RE
HOPING THEY UNDERSTAND THAT A
LEARNING DISABILITY IS SIMPLY A
DIFFERENT WAY OF LEARNING.
IT DOES NOT MEAN THE PERSON IS
LESS INTELLIGENT AND WE'VE
FOCUSED ON THE FACT THAT MANY
OF OUR LEADERS HAVE HAD
LEARNING DISABILITIES.
THEY'RE VERY, VERY INTELLIGENT.
THEY SIMPLY LEARN A DIFFERENT
WAY.
>> ON THE SCHOOLYARD YOU GET
COMMENTS LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME
ABOUT KIDS BEING DUMB OR STUPID
OR CAN'T UNDERSTAND.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> THIS PUTS A WHOLE DIFFERENT
LIGHT ON VIEWING KIDS WITH
LEARNING DISABILITIES.
>> IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.
WE HAD ONE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
SAY THAT WHEN SHE FINISHED THE
MIRROR WRITING SHE LOOKED AT ME
AND SAID MY SISTER HAS LEARNING
DISABILITIES AND SHE SAID I'M
GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT MORE
PATIENT WITH HER FROM NOW ON.
SO JUST LAST WEEK AT A SCHOOL
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK
TO STUDENTS AND ONE CHILD SAID
MY FRIEND HAS LEARNING
DISABILITIES AND SHE INTRODUCED
HER TO THAT FRIEND AND IT WAS
JUST AN OPENNESS WE COULD SHARE
THAT YES, SHE HAD A LEARNING
DISABILITY BUT IT DIDN'T AT ALL
MEAN ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT
HER. IT WAS SIMPLY A DIFFERENCE.
>> WE'RE AT ANOTHER STATION
HERE.
EXPLAIN WHAT THESE KIDS ARE
LEARNING.
>> THESE CHILDREN ARE USING
SLATE AND STYLISTS TO WRITE
THEIR NAME IN BRAILLE SO THAT
THEYEN THE NEED FOR BRAILLE AND
IT'S IN SO MANY PUBLIC PLACES
AND THEY'LL UNDERSTAND BETTER
HOW IT'S CREATED THAT IN ORDER
TO WRITE BRAILLE USING A SLATE
AND STYLIST YOU HAVE TO BRIGHT
IT BACKWARDS TO BE ABLE TO READ
IT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE FOWARD.
>> OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT
DESIGNED TO TEACH THEM BRAILLE
IN 15 MINUTES BECAUSE IT SEEMS
LIKE IT'S VERY DOYLE DO BUT
THAT'S SORT OF THE WHOLE POINT.
>> THAT IS -- DIFFICULT TO DO
BUT THAT'S SORT OF THE WHOLE
POINT.
>> THAT IS ONE OF THE IDEAS
BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING TOWARD
RESPECT FROM FEAR WHERE THE
CHILDREN ONCE THEY LEARN WHAT
IT TAKES TO UNDERSTAND AND
LEARN THE BRAILLE ALPHABET THEY
HAVE A BETTER APPRECIATION AND
RESPECT FOR PEOPLE WHO USE IT
EVERY DAY.
>> AND, OF COURSE, PEOPLE WHO
LEARN BRAILLE, IT'S A WHOLE
DIFFERENT SYSTEM OF
COMMUNICATING AND SOMETHING
THEY HAVE TO PRACTICE AND LEARN
SORT OFF A DIFFERENT LEVEL AS
WELL AS THEIR REGULAR
SCHOOLWORK.
>> WELL, WHAT AMAZED ME IS ONE
OF OUR VOLUNTEERS MADE IT VEL
CLEAR TO ME THAT -- VERY CLEAR
TO ME THAT AS SIGHTED PEOPLE WE
ARE CONSTANTLY REINFORCED IN
OUR READING ABILITIES BECAUSE
WE SEE SIGNS, PRINTED WORDS
ALWAYS IN FRONT OF US.
SOMEONE LEARNING TO READ
BRAILLE ACTUALLY HAS TO SIT
DOWN TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE
NOT BOMBARDED WITH IT LIKE WE
ARE.
>> WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT SOME
MORE DISABLED SKILLS THAT
STUDENTS HERE ARE EXPOSED TO
WHEN WE COME BACK.
>> WE'RE BACK WITH LESLIE WHO
IS THE FOUNDER OF TOUCH OF
UNDERSTANDING OUTSIDE AT
ANOTHER OF THE WORKSTATIONS
THAT YOU HAVE FOR THESE KIDS
AND WHAT ARE THEY LEARNING?
>> AT THIS STATION THEY'RE
DIVIDING THEIR TIME BETWEEN
USING WHEELCHAIRS AND LIGHT
MOBILITY CANES.
>> OKAY.
DOES EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT THESE
ARE?
I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW TO
USE THIS CANE.
SEAT LOOP ON THE TOP?
PUT YOUR HANDS IN IT.
YOU KNOW WHY YOU HAVE THAT ON
THERE?
YES, BECAUSE IF YOU DROP IT,
YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO FIND IT
AGAIN.
I ALSO WANT YOU TO KEEP YOUR
CANE WAY IN FRONT OF YOU
BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE
TALKING AND HIT YOURSELF IN THE
TUMMY RIGHT.
TAP BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND
FORTH.
>> I CAN'T SEE.
>> DID I HIT ANYONE?
>> I DID IT!
YEAH.
I WENT RIGHT TO THE TABLE.
>> GREAT JOB.
>> LESLIE, THE KIDS LOOK LIKE
THEY'RE HAVING A LOT OF FUN BUT
THERE'S A PURPOSE BEHIND ALL
THIS.
>> THE WHEELCHAIRS ARE REALLY
THINGS THAT ANCHOR THIS
EXPERIENCE IN THE KIDS' MEMORY
AND IT DOES LOOK LIKE A LOT OF
FUN BUT THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND
THEY'RE GOING TO STAND UP OUT
OF THIS WHEELCHAIR AND MOVE ON
AND THAT SOMEONE WHO REALLY
NEEDS A WHEELCHAIR ISN'T ABLE
TO DO THAT.
SO AGAIN WE CERTAINLY DON'T
WANT TO PUSH AN IDEA OF PITY.
WE WANT STUDENTS TO KNOW THESE
ARE WONDERFUL TOOLS THAT ALLOW
PEOPLE TO DO THINGS THEY
COULDN'T OTHERWISE INCLUDING A
LOT OF SPORTING ACTIVITIES.
>> I WAS NOTICING THEY WERE
HAVING FUN BUT THEY ARE
REALIZING HOW DIFFICULT IT IS
TO MOVE WITH THESE TOOLS.
>> THEY ARE.
>> OH, MY GOSH, WRONG WAY.
>> WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO STOP.
>> OH, STOP.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOCUS
ON IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE
SOMEONE WHO USES A WHEELCHAIR,
DON'T LOOK AT THEIR LEGS.
CHECK OUT HOW STRONG THEIR
UPPER BODY IS BECAUSE IN ORDER
TO USE THAT CHAIR THEY REALLY
HAD TO BUILD UP THEIR UPPER
ARMS.
>> WHAT DID YOU LEARN TODAY?
>> HOW THEY CAN USE STUFF THAT
WE DON'T USE USUALLY AND HOW
PEOPLE LOOK AT THEM DIFFERENT
WITHOUT LIKE STARING AT THEM
LIKE NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT
THEY'RE GOING THROUGH YOU CAN
UNDERSTAND.
>> YOU THINK YOU TREAT PEOPLE
DIFFERENTLY NOW?
>> PROBABLY MUCH DIFFERENT
BECAUSE I KNOW A FEW PEOPLE
THAT HAVE DISABILITIES AND I
USED TO LOOK AT THEM VERY
DIFFERENT.
>> I LEARNED THAT LIKE PEOPLE
HAVE DISABILITIES, BUT THEY'RE
NOT REALLY DIFFERENT FROM US.
THEY JUST USE WHEELCHAIRS AND
THEY JUST ARE NOT REALLY
DIFFERENT FROM US.
THEY JUST HAVE MISSING PARTS
AND THEY'RE JUST SAME AS US.
>> WERE YOU SURPRISED AT HOW
HARD IT WAS TO DO THE THINGS
THEY HAVE TO DO?
>> THE BEING BLIND AND USING
THE STICK WAS PRETTY HARD
BECAUSE I RAN INTO THE FENCE
AND YEAH, BUT THE WHEELCHAIRS
WAS PRETTY FUN BUT I UNDERSTAND
THAT THEY'RE ARMS MIGHT GET
REALLY TIRED AFTER THE DAY
THEY'VE BEEN USING THIS.
>> WE'RE HERE NOW WITH BOB
SCHULTZ, THE SUPERINTENDENT AT
THE EUREKA UNION SCHOOL
DISTRICT AND THE TOUCH OF
UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN DOING
PROGRAMS IN THE DISTRICT FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.
>> YES.
WE'RE EXCITED BECAUSE THE
PROGRAM ACTUALLY STARTED HERE.
LESLIE STARTED THE PROGRAM IN
OUR DISTRICT AND FIRST AT ONE
SCHOOL AND IT'S GROWN WHERE IT
COMES BACK EVERY YEAR AND GOES
TO MOST OF OUR SCHOOLS.
>> WE'RE TALKING A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT HOW SCHOOL THESE DAYS
ISN'T JUST ABOUT LEARNING HOW
TO READ AND RIGHT AND
ARITHMETIC.
A LOT OF KIDS AND SOME PARENTS
EXPECT SCHOOLS NOW TO TEACH
THEIR KIDS SOCIAL SKILLS AND
SOCIAL CONVENTIONS AND HOW DOES
THAT FIT INTO ALL OF THAT?
>> A LOT OF IT IS JUST MAKING
SURE EVERY CHILD FEELS WELCOME
HERE AND THIS KIND OF PROGRAM
MAKES IT SO THAT IF A STUDENT
HAS A DISABILITY, THEY'RE STILL
GOING TO FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE
AND PART OF THE GROUP AND IT
GOES BEYOND SORT OF SYMPATHY
FOR THEM.
IT GOES TO WOW, THIS IS REALLY
HARD TO WALK IN THIS BRACE OR
TO HAVE THIS LEARNING
DISABILITY AND I THINK IT GIVES
THEM A LOT MORE RESPECT FOR
OTHER CHILDREN.
SO WE DON'T HAVE KIDS WITH
DISABILITIES OR KIDS THAT LOOK
A LITTLE DIFFERENT BEING MADE
FUN OF, MAKES THEM FEEL PART OF
THE GROUP.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING AS AN
EDUCATOR YOU ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT
HOW ACCEPTED KIDS, WHETHER IT'S
A DISABILITY OR ETHNICITY OR
SOME OTHER FACTOR THAT SETS
THEM APART.
>> YEAH.
I THINK YOU CAN GENERALIZE IT
TO OTHER AREAS. THEY REALIZE
THAT ANYBODY THAT LOOKS
DIFFERENT OR ACTS DIFFERENTLY
MAYBE INSTEAD OF BEING AFRAID
OR EMBARRASSED, MAYBE I'LL TRY
AND UNDERSTAND THEM AND THAT'S
THE WHOLE POINT OF TOUCH OF
UNDERSTANDING.
>> HOW OFTEN DO KIDS GET THEIR
NOTIONS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE FROM
THEIR PARENTS?
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT SOMETIMES
PARENTS HAVE THAT SAME UNEASE
AND THAT THEY SORT OF
UNCONSCIOUSLY OR CONSCIOUSLY
PASS THEM ON TO THEIR KIDS?
>> WELL, THE UNEASE I THINK
SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE SOMEBODY
IN A WHEELCHAIR OR SOMEBODY
WITH A BRACE AND AN ADULT
SOMETIMES SORT OF SAYS WELL,
DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND
AFTER THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS
OR YOU SEE YOUNG KIDS THAT GO
UP AND SAY WHAT'S THAT AND ASK
QUESTIONS AND I THINK THE
PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE DISABILITY
SAY THAT'S WHAT THEY'D RATHER
HAVE PEOPLE DO INSTEAD OF BEING
EMBARRASSED.
COME UP AND TALK TO THEM.
>> IS THIS 1 CASE WHERE
SOMETIMES AFTER THE KIDS GO
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM THEY CAN
TEACH THE PARENTS PERHAPS?
>> I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE
GOALS IS JUST TO DO THAT SO THE
PARENTS UNDERSTAND.
SOME OF THE STUDENTS WE HAVE
NOW MAY NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN IN
SCHOOL AT ANOTHER TIME AND SO
THE PARENTS JUST DIDN'T HAVE
THAT EXPERIENCE.
SO IT'S A GOOD CHANCE FOR THEM.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING FOX40 IN
FOCUS.
>> YOU RELY A LOT ON VOLUNTEERS
FOR THIS PROJECT.
>> WE'RE TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON
VOLUNTEERS. THEY'RE AMAZING.
>> AND THEY'RE DISABLED
VOLUNTEERS, SO THEY'RE SPEAKING
FIRSTHAND ABOUT HOW THEY GET
THROUGH LIFE BASICALLY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THEY'RE SHARING ABOUT THE TOOLS
THAT THEY USE, THE INSIGHT THEY
HAVE AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT
THEY HAVE.
>> WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING TO
ONE OF THESE VOLUNTEERS, ELENA
CONTRARES WHO HAS BEEN WORKING
FOR HOW LONG NOW HERE?
>> ABOUT A YEAR.
>> WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THIS
PROGRAM?
>> I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO
OUTREACH AND DISABILITY
AWARENESS AND I'VE DONE A
LITTLE BIT THROUGH 4-H WITH THE
GUIDE DOG PUPPIES TALKING ABOUT
GOING TO DIFFERENT SERVICE
ORGANIZES TALKING ABOUT GUIDE
DOGS AND WHEN I HEARD ABOUT
THIS GROUP I THOUGHT WOW, THIS
IS REALLY GREAT.
I'D LIKE TO TALK TO THE
CHILDREN BECAUSE I ANY YOU
START WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG,
THEY'LL HAVE A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING AND BE MORE
TOLERANT AND HAVE MORE, YOU
KNOW, UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
IT'S LIKE TO BE DISABLED AND
JUST TREAT EVERYBODY NORMAL.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS
FIRSTHAND APPROACH?
KIDS SEEM TO BE INTERESTED IN
DEALING WITH THIS APPARATUS
LIKE THE CANES AND THE
WHEELCHAIRS
>> I THINK IT'S GREAT BECAUSE
YOU DON'T REALLY SEE THAT
DURING, YOU KNOW -- A LOT OF
PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO COME UP
AND TALK TO A DISABLED PERSON.
SO IT'S GREAT THAT THEY CAN SEE
THE TOOLS AND WHEN THEY SEE
THEM OUT IN PUBLIC THEY'RE NOT
LIKE WHAT IS THAT?
AND I DID -- I HAVE FOUND THAT
IT'S UNFORTUNATE BUT I USED A
LONG CANE TILL I WAS 18 AND
PEOPLE HARDLY EVER CAME UP AND
TALKED TO ME AND IT WAS KIND OF
LIKE I WAS INVISIBLE OR I WAS
-- BUT AS SOON AS I GOT THE
DOG, EVERYBODY STARTED COMING
OVER AND ASKING ABOUT THE DOG
AND IT'S LIKE IT WAS MORE LIKE
AN ICEBREAKER.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY EVEN
THOUGH YOU'RE BLIND, YOU FEEL
THAT TENSION THAT PEOPLE OFTEN
HAVE WHEN THEY COME UP TO OR
TRYING TO DECIDE HOW TO DEAL
WITH A DISABLED PERSON.
>> YEAH.
OR EVEN IF THEY -- YEAH, YES.
IT'S TYPICAL AND I TRY AND BE
POSITIVE.
>> SO WHEN KIDS MEET YOU, SOME
PEOPLE, SOME KIDS AND SOME
ADULTS HAVE NEVER ACTUALLY MET
A BLIND PERSON AND THEY HAVE
THIS HESITATION, YOU KNOW, HOW
DO I APPROACH THIS, BUT
AFFORDING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO
MEET WITH YOWRK TALK TO YOWRK
PET YOUR -- YOU, TALK TO YOU,
PET YOUR GUIDE DOG, SORT OF
BREAKS THE ICE A LITTLE BIT
>> I FOUND THAT.
WITH THE CANE IT SEEMS THAT
PEOPLE ARE MORE FEARFUL, NOT
FEARFUL BUT MORE HESITANT.
I WANT PEOPLE TO COME UP AND
ASK ME QUESTIONS AND TALK TO ME
ABOUT MY DOG AND I WANT TO TO
THEM THAT I'M JUST AS CAPABLE
AS EVERYBODY ELSE AND I GET
ALONG IN THE WORLD AND YEAH.
GO TO SCHOOL.
>> DO YOU GET THE FEELING
YOU'RE HELPING OTHER BLIND
PEOPLE, TOO, BY GIVING THIS
KIND OF INFORMATION OR EXPOSURE
TO KIDS SO THAT WHEN THEY GROW
UP OR TALK TO THEIR FRIENDS,
THEY'LL SORT OF SPREAD THE
MESSAGE THAT YOU WERE TALKING
ABOUT YOU'RE AN ORDINARY PERSON
AND SHOULD BE VIEWED AS SUCH?
>> I THINK SO, YEAH.
OTHER BLIND OR DEAF OR ANY
DISABLED PERSON OR EVEN
ELDERLY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
SOMETIMES ARE AFRAID OF TALKING
TO THE ELDERLY, BUT THEY HAVE A
LOT OF WISDOM.
>> WE'RE NOW GOING TO TALK TO
ANOTHER VOLUNTEER WITH THE
TOUCH OF UNDERSTANDING, MICAH
PENGAD WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE
ORGANIZATION FOR A NUMBER OF
YEARS.
>> ALMOST 10 YEARS NOW.
>> TELL US ABOUT YOUR
DISABILITY.
>> I HAVE NO HANDS AND I
STARTED THIS PROGRAM ABOUT 10
YEARS AGO BECAUSE IT DID ME
GOOD TO TALK ABOUT MY LOSS.
SO I FOUND LESLIE AND HER
FATHER THAT RAN THAT PROGRAM.
I ENJOYED TALKING ABOUT MY LOSS.
AFTER A WHILE I REALIZED THE
KIDS GOT A LOT OF GOOD EFFECT
OF ME TALKING TO THEM, ALSO.
>> TELL US HOW YOU LOST YOUR
HANDS AND ELBOWS.
>> I LOST MY HANDS IN A RACE
CAR CRASH AT THE SALT FLATS IN
1993, APPROACHING 300 MILES AN
HOUR.
>> SO YOU'RE USED TO BEING A
TAKE CHARGE GUY, A PHYSICAL GUY
RACING CARS.
>> SURE.
ALL MY LIFE I LIVED IN THE FAST
LANE.
I'LL NEVER GET OUT OF.
IT LIFE IS A GREAT TREASURE WE
HAVE.
I ENJOY IT AND LIFE GETS BETTER
EVERY DAY.
>> I THINK THAT ATTITUDE IS
WHAT A TOUCH OF UNDERSTANDING
SAW ABOUT AND IMPARTING THAT TO
KIDS AND TO LET PEOPLE KNOW
THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
DO HAVE LIVES.
>> EXACTLY.
I TELL THE KIDS THAT MY HANDS
ARE NOTHING BUT TOOLS.
THEIR FATHER'S CAR IS A TOOL.
A PENCIL IS A TOOL.
MY HANDS ARE THE TOOLS I USE TO
MAKE LIFE EASIER. WITHOUT THESE
TOOLS I COULDN'T DO A LOT OF
THINGS.
SO I KIND OF SAY A WHEELCHAIR,
CRUTCHES, MY PROSTHETIC HANDS,
PENCIL, A CAR ARE TOOLS WE USE
TO MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR US.
YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW KIDS
SOMETIMES MAYBE DON'T WANT TO
APPROACH SOMEONE LIKE YOURSELF
BECAUSE YOU LOOK STRANGE OR
MAYBE THEY'RE AFRAID OF YOUR
ARTIFICIAL HANDS.
>> THEY'RE AFRAID BECAUSE THEY
JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT AND
OUR GOAL HERE IS TO CONVINCE
THEM WE'RE ALL THE SAME INSIDE.
SOME OF US WEAR GLASSES.
SOME DON'T.
SOME OF US HAVE LONG HAIR.
SOME HAVE SHORT HAIR.
SOME HAVE DARK SKIN.
SOME HAVE LIGHT SKIN. WE ALL
EAT PEANUTS, THOUGH, DON'T WE?
WE LIKE TO GO TO PARTIES AND WE
ALL WANT TO HAVE FRIENDS AND
YOU HAVE TO TREAT YOUR FRIENDS
NICE TO HAVE THEM, DON'T YOU?
DON'T EVER FORGET THAT BECAUSE
INSIDE WE'RE ALL THE SAME
PEOPLE.
WE USE DIFFERENT TOOLS
SOMETIMES.
THINK OF MY HANDS AS TOOLS.
THAT HAND DOES THAT SOMETIMES,
BUT YOUR PARENTS' CAR IS A TOOL.
YOUR SCOOTER IS A TOOL.
YOUR MOTHER'S OVEN IS A TOOL.
MY HANDS ARE TOOLS.
SOME OF US USE THESE TOOLS TO
MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR US.
>> WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE
AMPUTEES, PEOPLE THAT ARE
BLIND, ALL KINDS OF
DISABILITIES AND KIDS GET A
REAL VARIETY OF DISABILITIES
AND THE KIDS ARE SURPRISED WE
CAN GET OUT AND DO THINGS.
>> DO YOU THINK DISABLED KIDS
BEAR THE BRUNT OF
MISUNDERSTANDING?
>> THEY SURE DO.
THEY'RE SINGLED OUT AND LAUGHED
AT BECAUSE THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT AND THEY'RE NO
DIFFERENT THAN ANYBODY ELSE.
INSIDE THEY'RE THE SAME PEOPLE.
THEY JUST USE DIFFERENT TOOLS
AND LOOK DIFFERENT ON THE
OUTSIDE.
>> WE TALKED TO THE KIDS,
TALKED TO A FEW KIDS EARLIER.
THEY SEEM TO GET THE MESSAGE.
THEY'RE OUTLOOK IS ENTIRELY
DIFFERENT.
>> THESE KIDS ARE A GREAT
GROUP, GOOD KIDS AND THEY
REALLY PICKED UP ON THINGS FAST
AND THAT'S THE REWARD WE GET
TALKING TO THE KIDS BECAUSE THE
KIDS GET SO MUCH OUT OF THE
PROGRAM.
I TOLD THE KIDS TO STAY IN
SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING
TO RUN MY COUNTRY IN THE FUTURE.
I WANT GOOD SMART PEOPLE TO RUN
THE COUNTRY AND BY DOING THIS
PROGRAM HOPEFULLY WE'RE MAKING
KIDS BETTER CITIZENS.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING FOX40 IN
FOCUS.
>> WELCOME BACK AND I WANT TO
THANK LESLIE FOR SHOWING YOUR
PROGRAM HERE AT EUREKA SCHOOL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IT.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE
YOU'RE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
AND YOU RAISE FUND THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR.
>> WE DO.
WE'RE VERY DEPENDENT ON
INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS AND ON OUR
VOLUNTEERS AS YOU CAN SEE HOW
IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO US.
>> HOW OFTEN DO YOU PRESENT
PROGRAMS LIKE THIS?
>> EVERY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY,
BUT THE DEMAND IS GROWING.
WE PRESENT TO ABOUT 4,000 KIDS
A YEAR.
>> SO THAT'S A LOT OF KIDS AND
YOU'RE SPREADING A LOT OF
KNOWLEDGE AROUND OBVIOUSLY.
>> WE ARE AND WE HEAR THAT IT
LASTS FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
WE HAVE KIDS IN COLLEGE SAY
THEY REMEMBER DOING IT WHEN
THEY WERE IN 2nd AND 3rd GRADE.
SO WE KNOW THE IMPACT LASTS.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN, LESLIE,
WITH A TOUCH OF UNDERSTANDING
AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
FOR THIS EDITION OF FOX40'S IN
FOCUS.
I'M YOUR HOST LONNIE WONG.