I wrote an article for EXCEPTIONAL PARENT magazine about how teacers and parents can help a child get through school. It has some very simple tips on introductions, talking about differences and dealing with teasing. Download the pdf here

Ideas On How To Use The Book In The Classroom If You Are A Parent.
You could read it to the class or the teacher could read it. You don't need to say anything about your child's difference at first. Just read the book and talk about the other people in the book. Ask if any of the students know anyone like the people in the book. Most of the students will talk about family members or friends. Then ask if they would want someone teasing that person about their difference. Ask how it would feel to be teased.

Reinforce the idea of being the same and different at the same time by playing the Same and Different game (See Fun Stuff to Download under Games to play). It shows that we are ALL different in some way and still so much alike. It just makes it more fun to talk about. Instead of a lecture on how to behave, it turns it into a game and something fun to listen to, and participate in.

After talking about everyone's feelings you may want to talk about your child's difference. I would read the book and talk about differences but if your child is very shy, like my daughter, and they don't want any attention drawn to them, you may want to just send home a letter to the parents for them to talk about whatever difference your child may have, with their child. You could just state the facts about the condition. You may want to add a few things on the letter about what kind of a kid your child is. What do they like to watch on TV or what do they collect or play with. That way it's more about getting to know your child and not just about his or her condition. It shows that your child is about more than the condition.

Here’s A Sample Of What Was In April’s Letter.
Prior to starting kindergarten, we sent home the following letter describing our daughter April's vitiligo. She signed it and we also included a smiling photo of her.

Hi my name is April,

I am in your child’s class (or I will play with your child on the playground).

I have Vitiligo. Vitiligo is a loss of pigment in my skin. It looks like white patches or “clouds” on my skin.

I’m a little shy at first so it’s hard for me to talk about it at times. Kids ask me a lot of questions about it so I thought I could give you the facts about Vitiligo so that you and your child will know about my condition.

• Vitiligo is not contagious
• It doesn’t hurt .
• I started with brown skin and it is slowly turning white.
• 2% to 5% of the population has Vitiligo.
• There is no safe cure for Vitiligo yet.
• It doesn’t affect me in any other way.

I like to play with Barbies. I have a really soft, playful cat named Gizmo. I love to go swimming and my favorite food is Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream.

If you know of anyone with Vitiligo, you might want to let them know that we have found a great resource via the Internet at: http://www.vitiligosupport.com

Thank you.

Examples Of How The Book Was Used
Different Just Like Me was used in the Awareness Campaign for Brachial Plexus. It was just another tool for them to use to show that we are all different, yet so much alike.

Students in Anthony's class put their arms in slings for the day. Mrs. Hobbs, Anthony, Charmaine and Lori.

Susan Serrano of San Diego reported that young Anthony Quidachay, along with his mother, Charmaine, organized a Seat Belt/Disability Awareness activity at his school. Anthony gave a talk about his injury, which was the result of a front seat airbag impact during a car accident. He wrote a letter asking children not to sit in the front seat. His class was asked if they would like to experience what it was like for Anthony to not have the use of his right arm. In support, his classmates bandaged their arms to find out how hard it was to be one-armed in a two-arm world. A local news station covered the event at the school. In addition, children’s author Lori Mitchell came to his class and read her book, “Different Just Like Me.” She engaged the children in a discussion about things and people being different but the same. Susan donated a copy of the book to her child’s school library.

Julia Wise had a party at Rax Restaurant, West Virginia, in order to spread Awareness within her community. They had cake and punch, and handed out information and silver ribbon pins. They had Lori Mitchell’s book “Different Just Like Me” on display and handed out crayons and the Awareness poster template. The poster template was used for children to draw someone who looks “Different Just Like Me.” They also held drawings and were very appreciative of the restaurant for putting on food specials to go along with the special activities. More than area 20 merchants provided prizes for drawings. Julia Wise read, “Different Just Like Me,” by Lori Mitchell to all the kindergarten classes at her daughter’s school.

Bridget McGinn of Phoenix was very excited and touched by the reaction to Awareness Week on the part of her son’s school librarian. Together they planned for activities to take place during Awaren ess Week. The librarian read the book, “Different Just Like Me,” by Lori Mitchell to classes throughout the week. She used the classroom lesson plan, (provided by the author via the Internet at http://www.differentjustlikeme.cc) to guide discussion, etc. Bridget and Ian donated a copy of the book to the library from Ian in honor of the First International Brachial Plexus Injury Awareness Week. The library placed a bookplate in the book with his name and the donation information. In addition, Bridget provided the library with a stack of bookmarks, which were displayed near the check-out table. The librarian also arranged for an announcement of Awareness Week to be posted on the weekly school television show, and distributed awareness information to all the teachers in the school.

What To Do About Teasing
I had a good suggestion from a parent just a few days ago. Her daughter had been teased by a boy on the playground. Her teacher saw this and talked to the boy that had done the teasing. She told him that for the rest of the month he was to be the girls slave. Anything she needed (pencil sharpened, books carried, cup of water, etc.), he would have to get for her. I thought that was a creative way to handle the situation and the mother said it worked very well. The boy didn't tease her anymore and she felt pretty good about having him wait on her.

Other Helpful Links

The Tariq Khamisa Foundation
The Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF) is dedicated to "stopping children from killing children" and breaking the cycle of youth violence by inspiring nonviolent choices through its powerful school-based educational programs. Together, with the support of an ever-expanding family of supporters who are joining with them to create a more peaceful world for our children, TKF is "planting seeds of hope" and "building a new culture of peacemakers" among America's youth. http://tkf.org/get_involved.html

Exceptional Parent Magazine
Exceptional Parent Magazine's http://www.eparent.com online resource. Continuing 30 award winning years of providing information, support, ideas, encouragement and outreach for parents and families of children with disabilities and the professionals who work with them.

PEAK Parent Center, Inc.
PEAK Parent Center, Inc. http://peakparent.org/ “Our mission is to ensure that children, youth, and adults with disabilities lead rich, active lives and participate as full members of their schools and communities by providing training, information, and technical assistance, including best practices, to families and the professionals working with them.”

The book, Activities in the Classroom, is only $10.00 and it has lesson plans for holidays that incorporate acceptance and diversity. Order Forms are available at: http://peakparent.org/subcategories.asp?id=1

Different and the Same
Helping Children Identify and Prevent Prejudice
http://www.fci.org (adults)
http:// www.pbs.org/rogers (children)
There is a prejudice-reduction series consisting of nine short videos for children, an extensive teacher’s guide and training materials. Developed by Family Communications Inc. , producers of the award-winning preschool television program MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD, it is being distributed to PBS stations by PBS K-12 Learning Services and sold on cassette by GPN, an educational distributor in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Hello Friend: The Ennis Williams Cosby Foundation
For Parents: http://www.hellofriend.org/parents/parents.html.
For parents with children that have learning disabilities
For Teachers: http://www.hellofriend.org/hellofriend/ctat.html
Wonderful stories about how teachers made a difference in the lives of there students. Great of ideas on how to teach learning disabled students.

Stanley Greenspan, M.D.
http://www.stanleygreenspan.com/

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
http://www.kidsource.com/nichcy/

Parent tips for working with Teachers
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content4/Spec_Ed/Spec_Ed9.html#Tips

The Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders
http://www.icdl.com/htmls/parents.html

SNP
Inclusion information
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content3/inclusion.disab.k12.3.1.html

Healing Stories
 http://www.healing-stories.com/
Here you'll find information about Healing Stories, along with unique resources to support you in using picture books to help children through the challenges they face, from the everyday to major trauma.

Ability Awareness in Action©
http://www.abilityawareness.com/dnn/
Ability Awareness in Action© is a community education program which trains schools, organizations, and businesses about the subject of disability.  Ability Awareness in Action focuses on disability as a natural and normal part of life and a celebrated component of diversity.