ADA
Build-it-Right, Inc
Disability Awareness
Skit
This skit lends itself to larger gatherings with audience participation
opportunities and is suitable for school assemblies and presentations to service
organizations.
Rainbow People Disability Awareness Skit
Here is a skit that I presented at Family Night at North Pacific yearly Meeting
of Friends 2002 and Willamette Quarterly Meeting, Fall 2006.
The title is optional and fit the music I had available but would work with
most any appropriate music.
SCRIPT:
Rainbow People Magic Show
(with Audience Participation). by Wayne Yarnall and Friends
W: (Ad Lib in first presentation: -- I picked up the wireless mike in
my left hand and could not hold it up to my mouth and said: "Wow this mike
is heavy" and moved it to my right hand and could hold it. Was also heavy and cord tangled at WQM.)
Hi, this is my first (now second) magic show. In 2002I attended
a presentation by James Randi (The Amazing Randi). He taught us the secrets
of magic -- the special action that did the magic which actually happens either
before or after the deception has occurred.
W: So now I know how to do magic. But I will need everyone's help.
W: First will everyone who is in a wheel chair, on crutches, or using
a walker please stand up and walk up the steps to the stage. Darn, that trick
didn't work!
W: Lets try again, I invite anyone using a wheeled device or crutches
to join us on stage. But we probably don't have time for that so just stand
up where you are. You can enlist the nearest person to stand up for you if this
trick doesn't work.
(Each of the 5 following paragraphs can be done with "wheeled or caned
or crutched" volunteers pre-arranged or recruited from the audence if possible, can be either on stage or just seeded among the audience)
V1: Now every one who has problems with hearing to stand up.
V2: Now every one who has trouble with vision that isn't corrected to 20-20
with glasses or contacts.
(Ad Lib in first presentation: The mike was turned off and didn't work, person
said loudly "Disabled Microphone" )
V3: Now every one with a trick knee or other muscle/joint problem which prevents
you from running around the block or running up stairs with a cup of coffee
in your hand.
V4: Now every one with an invisible condition which sometimes keeps you from
running around the block or otherwise interferes with your activities.
V5: Sorry, the rest of you are left out. You are stuck with being TEMPORARILY
ABLE BODIED.
W: Now my big trick. (Lets have a drum roll). Before your very eyes I
will make all of us on stage or standing up disappear.
W: Everyone sitting turn your eyes to the ceiling and close your eyes.
(Another drum roll please). Now the magic words --- abracadabra peanut butter
zoom.
W: OK open your eyes and you will not see any of us with a disability.
Great that trick worked.
W: Now blink your eyes and look around the room and we will magically
reappear. Good that trick also worked.
W: OK, now since those of you sitting are just TEMPORARILY ABLE BODIED
pretend you broke you leg and join us standing. Now we are one again.
W: I have a song for us all -- you can sit down now, or dance or wave
your hands or even sing along.
(On stage we all danced, me in my power wheel chair, 3 people with walkers and
one with a cane. Audience danced, waived hands, and a few sang along)
(Play Rainbow People Song - see footnote)
Rainbow People - Copyright by Mary Jo Oklessen (song caretaker)
We are the rainbow people.
We are the rainbow people.
We are beams of golden light.
We are the bridge to the - -
Dawning of a new day.
(This turned out to be a very meaningful experience for the entire audience
of about 180 people. There were about 40 people sitting down that were Temporarily
Able Bodied. Also worked good at WQM with abour 60 people without a stage.)
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More on James Randi:
After he explained this right before our eyes he tricked us. So he had to repeat
the trick slowly showing how he had changed the time on a watch by turning the
adjustment knob very early in the trick. Check out http://randi.org
for more on James Randi.
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Rainbow People Song
From Tape: Rainbow People by Susan Stark)
http://www.ipj-ppj.org/Resource%20Pages/rainbow_people.htm
Rainbow People," a native American chant, most deeply touches children
and adults.
Rainbow People - Copyright by Mary Jo Oklessen (song caretaker)
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