My youngest daughter and I just love penguins. The is a cute online community-Disney’s Club Penguin that she is part of. It free and group home residents may enjoy being part of it. During these hot days of summer it is nice to think about being in the snow! We chose the Disney movie about penguins “Happy Feet” to watch the other night. As we watched it I realize what a great movie it is for group home residents to watch.
Not all group home residents can do things to change the world. Reinforcing that their differences can make a difference can change the group home resident’s world. As group home support staff, we should all be empowering those we care for so they can have the best life they are capable of. The movie “Happy Feet” is a casual way to plant the following seeds in group home residents:
- Discover strengths
- Acceptance of disability
- Disability pride
- Personal empowerment
- Tools to make a difference
There is a penguin that is “disabled” due to being dropped while in his egg by his dad. The character, Mumble is very different and becomes an outcast and removed from the flock of penguins he is born into. Not only does Mumble’s flock turn their back on him so do his parents . He goes through some adventures as an outcast and ends up with a flock of penguins that appreciate him and are impressed by his differences. He doesn’t allow his past, anger, or resentment keep him from the following:
- Doing good
- Searching for the truth
- Saving the flock he was born into
- Finding love
- Acceptin his differences
During his search for the truth, he is captured and goes through depression and hallucinations. Eventually, his disability-his happy feet, is what contributes to him being released from captivity mentally and physically.
When Mumble returns to the flock, he has an “apparatus” attached to him making him even more different from the others. Mumble with the happy feet, doesn’t allow it to slow him down and the following happens:
- Participates in helping others accept his apparatus and seeing the good in it
- Instructs on how his difference can help the entire flock
- Stands up for the truth even when strongly opposed.
As he speaks, the strongest supporters of him being removed from the flock, not only have a change of heart, but try out his “different” ways of doing things-they get “happy feet”.
Mumble’s “disability”, his different way of doing things, when taught to others, brings attention to the penguin flock’s suffering. Once aware of the problem, many join together to make changes to protect the penguins and assure their survival.
Happy Feet is a great movie for group home support staff and group home residents to watch and learn from together.
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