Deaf students sign away at city-sponsored spelling bee

Miss-Delectable

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http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=4111904

The annual deaf finger spelling bee is just like any other spelling bee, except of course, for the sign language. The city's best junior high deaf spellers competed at the spelling contest sponsored by the City of Chicago's Office for People with Disabilities. Students earned the right to be here by winning at their local schools.

Some of the students are considered hard of hearing while others profoundly deaf, but they all play the same game. They receive words in sign language and then they have to finger spell each letter to continue.

In these days of political correctness, words like 'hearing impaired' are more widely used than "deaf." But not anymore. The term has gone full cycle, according to Kate Kubey, director of Deaf Finger Spelling Bee.

"We don't use it in the deaf culture. I could give you an example. If you call us hearing impaired I will call you deaf impaired," said Kate Kubey, dir. of Deaf Finger Spelling Bee.

So according to Kate the word "deaf" is just fine. The fifth-grade winner today was Yanay Rodriguez. She bathed in the glow of the silent applause and explains the importance of spelling.

"Because it's good for my future to know how to spell," said Rodriguez.

Carla Arrieta worked hard with her eye on a prize.

"If I win my grandmother will buy me a laptop computer," said Arrieta.

They spell just like everyone else. It's just that their words come out of their fingertips.
 
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