Miss-Delectable
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- Apr 18, 2004
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http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=City+youth+eyes+deaf+national+team+spot&articleId=a91e6f69-fa64-4753-9047-2754f0f9ab51
When Mike and Sally Dion picked up their adopted son at a Philippines orphanage nine years ago, James Dion was profoundly deaf and possessed no language skills.
He's accomplished quite a bit since then. This December the 18-year-old junior of the Manchester Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing earned a tryout opportunity the men's USA Men's Deaf National Soccer Team in Pensacola Fla.
The team, which is mostly made up of adult or college-age players, toured the United Kingdom last summer. It's an honor just to be invited to the tryout.
Dion earned Deaf Prep All-American honors in 2006 while playing soccer for the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford Conn.
"It's just amazing what he's accomplished in such a short amount of time," said Mike Dion. James, who can hear a little out of one ear and nothing out of the other, learned the English language. He basically uses sign language to communicate.
Last fall Dion made the Manchester Memorial JV team and plays sparingly on the varsity squad this season.
"He's a good kid and has worked hard for us," said Memorial soccer coach Paul Ostberg. "I'm excited for him and his chance to make the national team."
When Mike and Sally Dion picked up their adopted son at a Philippines orphanage nine years ago, James Dion was profoundly deaf and possessed no language skills.
He's accomplished quite a bit since then. This December the 18-year-old junior of the Manchester Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing earned a tryout opportunity the men's USA Men's Deaf National Soccer Team in Pensacola Fla.
The team, which is mostly made up of adult or college-age players, toured the United Kingdom last summer. It's an honor just to be invited to the tryout.
Dion earned Deaf Prep All-American honors in 2006 while playing soccer for the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford Conn.
"It's just amazing what he's accomplished in such a short amount of time," said Mike Dion. James, who can hear a little out of one ear and nothing out of the other, learned the English language. He basically uses sign language to communicate.
Last fall Dion made the Manchester Memorial JV team and plays sparingly on the varsity squad this season.
"He's a good kid and has worked hard for us," said Memorial soccer coach Paul Ostberg. "I'm excited for him and his chance to make the national team."