We Are All the Same Inside

I recently had the pleasure of being a guest in Timothy Bellavia's graduate class in general and special education at Touro College in New York City. I enjoyed speaking about my career in special education and giving the students an overview of It's OK to be Different.

Most importantly, I have been honored to connect with Mr. Bellavia and his amazing work to promote tolerance. Not only is he an assistant professor at Touro College, but he is the author of the award winning, We Are all the Same Inside children's book and corresponding Sage doll-making workshop that teaches tolerance. In addition, he serves as the curriculum specialist and creative art director for Touro's Project Aspire public health and education program at P.S. 197 in Harlem.

Mr. Bellavia and I met on Facebook! The philosophy behind both our programs brought us together. I look forward to future collaboration and I will be including a lesson in the Be a Buddy curriculum that involves the Sage doll-making. For more information about his program visit: www.weareallthesameinside.com

Building Friendships: Be a Buddy - not a Bully Event

On Tuesday, April 17th we had an event to promote the It's OK to be Different program, Be a Buddy - not a Bully. Thanks to Change (Center for Holocaust Human Rights & Genocide Education)at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ,we were able to demonstrate our efforts to provide young children with a comprehensive and preventative curriculum that promotes respect for individuals and encourages inclusiveness. A highlight of the evening was our guest speaker, Cheryl Kilodavis, author of My Princess Boy. Her inspiring presentation was empowering to all the educators and parents in the room. We learned from her that "we need to accept and support our children for whomever they are and however they wish to look." My special thanks to all the wonderful people who were involved in preparing for and participating in this event. Our journey to acceptance and respect for the uniqueness in us all continues.

Teaching Tolerance - Southern Poverty Law Center

Listed as a resource on this site, The Southern Poverty Law Center publishes a magazine for educators called, Teaching Tolerance. Without a doubt this is the most important publication I have used in the development of It's OK to be Different. I am therefore very proud that one of the lessons for the Be a Buddy - not a Bully program was featured in the latest edition. The lesson, "Toys and Clothes: Gender Expression" involves the reading of two books, William's Doll by Charlotte Zolotow and My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis.Each book involves the choice the characters make about a toy or something to wear. A description of the lesson is on an earlier post under, Perfect Duo.
I urge every educator and parent to subscribe to Teaching Tolerance. The best part is that it is FREE! You can reach their site from this blog.

Honk for "Honk!"

During the holidays, I had the pleasure of taking my 5 year old grandson,Cyrus to a production of "Honk," the musical based on Hans Christian Anderen's, "The Ugly Duckling." It was such an entertaining and meaningful production for children and adults. It was especially rewarding for me as the message was the same as it is for It's OK to be Different. Everyone needs to be accepted for who they are and not ridiculed for being different. I loved the words from one of the songs:
"Different isn't spiteful,
Different isn't wrong
So why is it so hard to get along?
I only want to get along.
Different isn't hateful,
Different could be swell.
Different is just...
Well...
Different"

Let's all embrace difference and model it for our children.