Miss-Delectable
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Watertown Daily Times | 'DEAF PEOPLE CAN DO ANYTHING'
Emily A. Isberneur, 9, a third-grader at Wilson Elementary School in Adams Center, is hearing-impaired, and Friday she had a chance to socialize with other hearing-impaired children.
Through the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Emily and about 20 other hearing-impaired pupils learned how to dance at the Clayton Opera House.
"I always loved dance," Emily said. She is the daughter of Melissa A. and Donald F. Isberneur.
Emily received a cochlear implant when she was 2 years old, and it has allowed her to develop speech. She has been at an advantage because of the implants, and has plenty of friends at school, but it doesn't change the fact that she is different from her peers.
"They're pretty isolated in different schools. This event helps with socialization because everyone can communicate with each other," said Lucy T. Hiotis, a teacher of deaf and hearing-impaired students for BOCES.
The event, organized by BOCES teacher Lois A. Scanlon, was inspired by actress Marlee Matlin's participation in the ABC show "Dancing with the Stars." Ms. Matlin is profoundly deaf.
"She's an excellent role model for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. She's proven that she can beat the odds, that deaf people can do anything," Ms. Hiotis said.
Through dance, students had a chance not only to relate to Ms. Matlin, but also to learn something about themselves.
"I think this proves to them that they are capable of learning something just like hearing people," Ms. Hiotis said.
Local ballroom dancing instructors Douglas S. and Bonnie S. Johnston taught the children everything from the hand jive to the waltz.
Emaleigh Baxter, 8, a pupil at Carthage Elementary, performed the waltz in the competition portion of the event.
"I liked spinning around. I really wish I could be a ballerina," she said through a sign-language interpreter. Emaleigh said she may pursue dancing when she gets older. She is the daughter of Joann M. Dickinson and Bruce A. Baxter.
Other children, like Kevin E. Burns, 12, a pupil at Indian River Middle School in Philadelphia, had never danced before. Kevin is the son of Janey L. and Kevin E. Burns.
"I don't really like dancing, but if you just get into it, you'll like it," said Kevin, whose left ear is hearing-impaired. "It's easy once you get the hang of it."
Not all children could hear the beats and rhythms like Kevin could, so they watched carefully and followed their teachers' movements.
"I see intensity in their eyes as they're trying to follow along," Mrs. Johnston said.
The Johnstons were impressed with the children's ability to learn. Mrs. Johnston said they taught the same beginner lesson they normally teach to hearing dancers.
To the teachers, the event was an opportunity for children to try something new without reluctance.
"They can do whatever they want," Ms. Scanlon said. "They just have to get out there and try, and who knows how far they can go."
Emily A. Isberneur, 9, a third-grader at Wilson Elementary School in Adams Center, is hearing-impaired, and Friday she had a chance to socialize with other hearing-impaired children.
Through the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Emily and about 20 other hearing-impaired pupils learned how to dance at the Clayton Opera House.
"I always loved dance," Emily said. She is the daughter of Melissa A. and Donald F. Isberneur.
Emily received a cochlear implant when she was 2 years old, and it has allowed her to develop speech. She has been at an advantage because of the implants, and has plenty of friends at school, but it doesn't change the fact that she is different from her peers.
"They're pretty isolated in different schools. This event helps with socialization because everyone can communicate with each other," said Lucy T. Hiotis, a teacher of deaf and hearing-impaired students for BOCES.
The event, organized by BOCES teacher Lois A. Scanlon, was inspired by actress Marlee Matlin's participation in the ABC show "Dancing with the Stars." Ms. Matlin is profoundly deaf.
"She's an excellent role model for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. She's proven that she can beat the odds, that deaf people can do anything," Ms. Hiotis said.
Through dance, students had a chance not only to relate to Ms. Matlin, but also to learn something about themselves.
"I think this proves to them that they are capable of learning something just like hearing people," Ms. Hiotis said.
Local ballroom dancing instructors Douglas S. and Bonnie S. Johnston taught the children everything from the hand jive to the waltz.
Emaleigh Baxter, 8, a pupil at Carthage Elementary, performed the waltz in the competition portion of the event.
"I liked spinning around. I really wish I could be a ballerina," she said through a sign-language interpreter. Emaleigh said she may pursue dancing when she gets older. She is the daughter of Joann M. Dickinson and Bruce A. Baxter.
Other children, like Kevin E. Burns, 12, a pupil at Indian River Middle School in Philadelphia, had never danced before. Kevin is the son of Janey L. and Kevin E. Burns.
"I don't really like dancing, but if you just get into it, you'll like it," said Kevin, whose left ear is hearing-impaired. "It's easy once you get the hang of it."
Not all children could hear the beats and rhythms like Kevin could, so they watched carefully and followed their teachers' movements.
"I see intensity in their eyes as they're trying to follow along," Mrs. Johnston said.
The Johnstons were impressed with the children's ability to learn. Mrs. Johnston said they taught the same beginner lesson they normally teach to hearing dancers.
To the teachers, the event was an opportunity for children to try something new without reluctance.
"They can do whatever they want," Ms. Scanlon said. "They just have to get out there and try, and who knows how far they can go."
