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Deaf fifth-grader shows artistic promise - 06/02/2008 - MiamiHerald.com
Vivienne Crews cannot speak or hear.
The fifth-grader who was born deaf has found another way to communicate with the world: through her art.
With sketch pads, pencils, paints and markers by her side, Crews, who lives in Coral Gables, is immersed in a visual world.
''I definitely am more visual since I can't hear anything, nothing to hear,'' Vivienne, 11, signed through the interpreter who is with her during the school day. ``Always looking around at things, I don't have the distractions. I can focus on the things I see.''
Two years ago, Vivienne's parents took her out of a special program for the deaf at Auburndale Elementary School and placed her in a regular art magnet school, South Miami K-8's Expressive Arts Center, so that her drawing talent could be cultivated.
Vivienne said she has received a lot of praise for her work.
'I feel really happy inside that they really like my artwork. People are always impressed. They always say `I don't know how she does that. She's deaf and she's an artist,' '' she said.
Laurie Russell, Vivienne's art teacher, said the student is extremely focused.
''When she's working, all of her senses are accentuated,'' said Russell, who lives in Palmetto Bay. ``Tactically, she's totally involved. This is her love.''
Vivienne's mother, Michelle, said she is frequently astonished by her daughter's observations.
'She picks out and points out things to us and we're like `Wow, how did she see that?' '' Crews said. ``She has the acuity to see things in a much closer way.''
While Vivienne was at the University of Miami Mailman Center's Debbie School, which provides early intervention services and primary education services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, Vivienne's parents started to notice their daughter's artistic ability.
''At age 4, I really started to notice that her drawings were very elaborate for her age,'' Crews said. ``Vivienne had also scored extremely high in hand-eye coordination tests.''
Crews said Vivienne started drawing on everything in their house.
''We couldn't keep any paper around the house. Everything would be covered with Vivienne's drawing,'' Crews said. ``She couldn't stop herself. She just had to draw.''
Vivienne had to audition to be in South Miami K-8's art magnet program beginning in the third grade. She scored 100 percent on the program's entrance exam.
Russell said she was impressed during the application process.
''Her perceptual skills are much more advanced,'' Russell said. ``She came in at a developmentally fifth-grade level instead of a third-grade level.''
Vivienne's parents, however, had to convince the school district that a deaf child could survive in a regular school environment.
''We had to fight with the school district to bring every resource to the magnet program,'' Michelle Crews said. ``The school was a little hesitant at first because they had not had a deaf student before.''
However, as soon as Vivienne arrived at South Miami K-8 two years ago, she fit in with the other students. She is able to keep up with the academics and has already won numerous awards for her art, including a recent one in Tampa.
Russell said she tries not to treat Vivienne differently.
''We do talk about how she is speaking another language. And like any language, the more languages you know, the greater access you have to the world,'' Russell said.
Some students also want to speak her language.
''We are learning sign language to communicate with her,'' said fellow fifth-grade classmate Maria Lopez, 11, who lives in Kendall.
Vivienne's classmates are impressed.
Kristin Galeri, a fellow art student, said Vivienne's work is ``one-of-a-kind.''
''Some people have artwork like other people, but hers stands out from the crowd,'' said Kristin, 11, who lives in South Miami.
Maria said Vivienne likes to use a lot of contrast in her work.
''She likes to use the details of hair and expression. She likes to emphasize the face and the characteristics of the person,'' she said. ``She's really outgoing, up for anything. Vivienne is adventurous and finds the fun in everything.''
Vivienne's mom agreed.
''Vivienne just opens up and tells you exactly what she's thinking,'' Crews said. ``She's a trip.''
Michelle Crews said it's been a long journey since she and her husband, Dean, first noticed their daughter wasn't forming consonants at age 6 months.
After extensive testing and evaluation, Vivienne was diagnosed at age 1 as being profoundly deaf.
''Your initial reaction is that the child you had just died and you have a new one that you're not quite sure what to do with,'' Michelle said. ``It's very devastating at first.''
They tried hard to meet Vivienne's needs.
''A child's first language comes from her family. We were a lifetime behind in learning this brand-new language,'' said Michelle, whose 13-year-old daughter, Skyler, can hear. ``We were under pressure to learn it quickly.''
Vivienne's parents had to find a suitable school environment as well.
The family, who was living in Sarasota at the time, decided to move to Miami where there were more resources for the hearing impaired.
In the fall, Vivienne will enter South Miami K-8's computer art technology program.
''In the future, I would really like to be a famous artist and have a lot of beautiful artwork,'' Vivienne said.
Russell said she attributes Crews' success to her ``very strong will.''
''She knows what she wants. She's very deliberate,'' Russell said. ``I respect her for that, for being forthright, for having real conviction. That gets her through a lot of the challenges that she meets.''
Vivienne Crews cannot speak or hear.
The fifth-grader who was born deaf has found another way to communicate with the world: through her art.
With sketch pads, pencils, paints and markers by her side, Crews, who lives in Coral Gables, is immersed in a visual world.
''I definitely am more visual since I can't hear anything, nothing to hear,'' Vivienne, 11, signed through the interpreter who is with her during the school day. ``Always looking around at things, I don't have the distractions. I can focus on the things I see.''
Two years ago, Vivienne's parents took her out of a special program for the deaf at Auburndale Elementary School and placed her in a regular art magnet school, South Miami K-8's Expressive Arts Center, so that her drawing talent could be cultivated.
Vivienne said she has received a lot of praise for her work.
'I feel really happy inside that they really like my artwork. People are always impressed. They always say `I don't know how she does that. She's deaf and she's an artist,' '' she said.
Laurie Russell, Vivienne's art teacher, said the student is extremely focused.
''When she's working, all of her senses are accentuated,'' said Russell, who lives in Palmetto Bay. ``Tactically, she's totally involved. This is her love.''
Vivienne's mother, Michelle, said she is frequently astonished by her daughter's observations.
'She picks out and points out things to us and we're like `Wow, how did she see that?' '' Crews said. ``She has the acuity to see things in a much closer way.''
While Vivienne was at the University of Miami Mailman Center's Debbie School, which provides early intervention services and primary education services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, Vivienne's parents started to notice their daughter's artistic ability.
''At age 4, I really started to notice that her drawings were very elaborate for her age,'' Crews said. ``Vivienne had also scored extremely high in hand-eye coordination tests.''
Crews said Vivienne started drawing on everything in their house.
''We couldn't keep any paper around the house. Everything would be covered with Vivienne's drawing,'' Crews said. ``She couldn't stop herself. She just had to draw.''
Vivienne had to audition to be in South Miami K-8's art magnet program beginning in the third grade. She scored 100 percent on the program's entrance exam.
Russell said she was impressed during the application process.
''Her perceptual skills are much more advanced,'' Russell said. ``She came in at a developmentally fifth-grade level instead of a third-grade level.''
Vivienne's parents, however, had to convince the school district that a deaf child could survive in a regular school environment.
''We had to fight with the school district to bring every resource to the magnet program,'' Michelle Crews said. ``The school was a little hesitant at first because they had not had a deaf student before.''
However, as soon as Vivienne arrived at South Miami K-8 two years ago, she fit in with the other students. She is able to keep up with the academics and has already won numerous awards for her art, including a recent one in Tampa.
Russell said she tries not to treat Vivienne differently.
''We do talk about how she is speaking another language. And like any language, the more languages you know, the greater access you have to the world,'' Russell said.
Some students also want to speak her language.
''We are learning sign language to communicate with her,'' said fellow fifth-grade classmate Maria Lopez, 11, who lives in Kendall.
Vivienne's classmates are impressed.
Kristin Galeri, a fellow art student, said Vivienne's work is ``one-of-a-kind.''
''Some people have artwork like other people, but hers stands out from the crowd,'' said Kristin, 11, who lives in South Miami.
Maria said Vivienne likes to use a lot of contrast in her work.
''She likes to use the details of hair and expression. She likes to emphasize the face and the characteristics of the person,'' she said. ``She's really outgoing, up for anything. Vivienne is adventurous and finds the fun in everything.''
Vivienne's mom agreed.
''Vivienne just opens up and tells you exactly what she's thinking,'' Crews said. ``She's a trip.''
Michelle Crews said it's been a long journey since she and her husband, Dean, first noticed their daughter wasn't forming consonants at age 6 months.
After extensive testing and evaluation, Vivienne was diagnosed at age 1 as being profoundly deaf.
''Your initial reaction is that the child you had just died and you have a new one that you're not quite sure what to do with,'' Michelle said. ``It's very devastating at first.''
They tried hard to meet Vivienne's needs.
''A child's first language comes from her family. We were a lifetime behind in learning this brand-new language,'' said Michelle, whose 13-year-old daughter, Skyler, can hear. ``We were under pressure to learn it quickly.''
Vivienne's parents had to find a suitable school environment as well.
The family, who was living in Sarasota at the time, decided to move to Miami where there were more resources for the hearing impaired.
In the fall, Vivienne will enter South Miami K-8's computer art technology program.
''In the future, I would really like to be a famous artist and have a lot of beautiful artwork,'' Vivienne said.
Russell said she attributes Crews' success to her ``very strong will.''
''She knows what she wants. She's very deliberate,'' Russell said. ``I respect her for that, for being forthright, for having real conviction. That gets her through a lot of the challenges that she meets.''