Deaf students talk to Santa through sign language

Miss-Delectable · 12-09-2005, 08:35 PM

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pb...03/1006/SPORTS

Nine-year-old Jessica Lopez had never told Santa what she wanted for Christmas. She saw him at the mall each year, but she never heard him wish her a happy holiday.

When she was 3, Jessica's family found out that she was deaf and could not speak.

But on Thursday, she and dozens of other Manatee students had a chance to sit on Santa's lap and tell him their holiday wishes using sign language.

"This is so important for these children," said Jessica's mother, Shonna Lopez. "They don't feel so alone."

Santa's visit was part of the school district's holiday party for students who are deaf or hearing impaired. The district hosted the event at Miller Elementary School on Manatee Avenue West with the Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The organization hosted a similar event for Sarasota students last week.

"If they were to go to the mall and sit down on his lap, they still couldn't communicate with Santa," said Rachel Kendzior, a speech and language pathologist who works with the students at Miller. "This way, they can have that experience."

Along with giving children the chance to talk to Santa, the event allows them to meet other deaf students.

About 45 deaf or hearing impaired students attend Manatee County schools.

While the schools aim to have all these students learning in a regular classroom, about a dozen of them spend most of their time learning in a special class at Miller.

The rest of the students attend regular classes, many with an interpreter.

Before Santa's visit, the students sat around tables playing dreidel and using sign language to sing holiday songs.

Then they came one by one and sat on his lap and used their hands to tell Santa their Christmas wishes.

Before he saw Santa use sign language at school, first-grader Michael Shoemaker never really understood his significance to the holiday.

"You said Santa was coming and he didn't really know what it meant," said his grandmother, Beverly Buckner. "Here they're not different. It's in their language."

Nancy · 12-10-2005, 09:25 AM

Years ago, when I was in high school, I was a volunteer working part of the afternoons for school credits at an elementary school with deaf and hard of hearing kids. During the Christmas season that year in 1987 (I was a Senior), one of my own classmates in H.S. who is deaf (we both were in the same deaf/hard of hearing classes - and I also went to other classes with classmates who can hear) came over dressed as Santa Claus to talk to the kids where I was. I haven't heard the outcome of that because I was in another room, but from seeing the kids' faces, I can tell it turned out good.

Also, I remember one of the Deaf Club flyers I received in the
1990s about a signing Santa Claus for the Deaf Service Center when I used to live in SE FL.

This week at work, I went to three times to the Circuit Civil
department to interpret for two sets of deaf couples, and tell the
workers there orally what they said in sign, and vice versa.

Early
this year, I had to interpret a judge in a very small room to a deaf
couple getting married their wedding vows.

I am glad I have the
opportunity to help them at work.

So, yes, I knew that there are things like that, like the Santa
Claus signing to kids.

It's cool in my book.

pek1 · 12-10-2005, 10:59 PM

Nancy,

This is way beyond cool!! For your own comments, which I thought was very nice of you, I give you the following five responses!!

A few days ago, I received an invitation to the "Signing Santa" who is appearing in Fargo, North Dakota, Dec. 17. Being that I'm straight east of there a couple hundred miles, I couldn't go. I went the first time I was invited, back in 2002 and, if you've never seen happiness on the faces of those little boys and girls, you most definately would see it then.

Miss-Delectable,

Merry Christmas to both of your families and you!!

12-09-2005, 08:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 8,854 Blog Entries: 3	Deaf students talk to Santa through sign language http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pb...03/1006/SPORTS Nine-year-old Jessica Lopez had never told Santa what she wanted for Christmas. She saw him at the mall each year, but she never heard him wish her a happy holiday. When she was 3, Jessica's family found out that she was deaf and could not speak. But on Thursday, she and dozens of other Manatee students had a chance to sit on Santa's lap and tell him their holiday wishes using sign language. "This is so important for these children," said Jessica's mother, Shonna Lopez. "They don't feel so alone." Santa's visit was part of the school district's holiday party for students who are deaf or hearing impaired. The district hosted the event at Miller Elementary School on Manatee Avenue West with the Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The organization hosted a similar event for Sarasota students last week. "If they were to go to the mall and sit down on his lap, they still couldn't communicate with Santa," said Rachel Kendzior, a speech and language pathologist who works with the students at Miller. "This way, they can have that experience." Along with giving children the chance to talk to Santa, the event allows them to meet other deaf students. About 45 deaf or hearing impaired students attend Manatee County schools. While the schools aim to have all these students learning in a regular classroom, about a dozen of them spend most of their time learning in a special class at Miller. The rest of the students attend regular classes, many with an interpreter. Before Santa's visit, the students sat around tables playing dreidel and using sign language to sing holiday songs. Then they came one by one and sat on his lap and used their hands to tell Santa their Christmas wishes. Before he saw Santa use sign language at school, first-grader Michael Shoemaker never really understood his significance to the holiday. "You said Santa was coming and he didn't really know what it meant," said his grandmother, Beverly Buckner. "Here they're not different. It's in their language." __________________

12-10-2005, 10:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
pek1 Professional Writer. Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Minnesota. Posts: 3,442	Nancy, This is way beyond cool!! For your own comments, which I thought was very nice of you, I give you the following five responses!! A few days ago, I received an invitation to the "Signing Santa" who is appearing in Fargo, North Dakota, Dec. 17. Being that I'm straight east of there a couple hundred miles, I couldn't go. I went the first time I was invited, back in 2002 and, if you've never seen happiness on the faces of those little boys and girls, you most definately would see it then. Miss-Delectable, Merry Christmas to both of your families and you!! __________________ Pete Above Him there is no other . . . John 14:6. Last edited by pek1; 12-10-2005 at 11:22 PM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Today
Deafness	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

12-10-2005, 09:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
Nancy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Central FL Posts: 2,289	Years ago, when I was in high school, I was a volunteer working part of the afternoons for school credits at an elementary school with deaf and hard of hearing kids. During the Christmas season that year in 1987 (I was a Senior), one of my own classmates in H.S. who is deaf (we both were in the same deaf/hard of hearing classes - and I also went to other classes with classmates who can hear) came over dressed as Santa Claus to talk to the kids where I was. I haven't heard the outcome of that because I was in another room, but from seeing the kids' faces, I can tell it turned out good. Also, I remember one of the Deaf Club flyers I received in the 1990s about a signing Santa Claus for the Deaf Service Center when I used to live in SE FL. This week at work, I went to three times to the Circuit Civil department to interpret for two sets of deaf couples, and tell the workers there orally what they said in sign, and vice versa. Early this year, I had to interpret a judge in a very small room to a deaf couple getting married their wedding vows. I am glad I have the opportunity to help them at work. So, yes, I knew that there are things like that, like the Santa Claus signing to kids. It's cool in my book.