Miss-Delectable
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http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=51946
Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival touched some visitors with special needs Sunday. It was Deaf Awareness Day at the theme park in Pigeon Forge.
A stage performance of " Babes in Toyland" came alive for Connie Smith and other deaf visitors thanks to Teressa Gregory. She's one of dozens of interpreters who volunteered their time for Deaf Awareness Day.
Connie Smith appreciates it. "Well, I'm deaf and I'm visual and it's hard for me to see what's going on so having the interpreters here helps me understand everything."
Deaf awareness day helped the hearing impaired enjoy the shows. It's also an opportunity for interpreters to stretch their sign language skills
"Interpreting for the performing arts is a lot different from just community interpreting," explained Charis Davis, who works as an interpreter for the Knoxville Center for the Deaf. "It takes a lot of rehearsal time, practice time and just prep time in general."
The work interpreters put in to the performance is apparent even to those who aren't hearing impaired.
"It certainly sparks some discussion with people who may not have been exposed to that previously," said Pete Owens with Dollywood.
The interpreters get positive feedback from both non-hearing and hearing visitors.
Charis Davis said, "I have people come up and say they enjoy watching it even though they may not understand the signs."
The signs help Connie Smith follow the story in the "Babe in Toyland" performance.
And Teressa Gregory lends her voice to interpret for her, when she was asked how this Dollywood experience compared to previous visits.
"Oh, I like it a lot better with interpreters," said Smith. "Without the interpreters I just ride the rides and that's really all I do."
She has so much more to do with interpreters assisting throughout the park.
Dollywood usually hosts Deaf Awareness Day twice a year, once in the summer and once in the winter.
Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival touched some visitors with special needs Sunday. It was Deaf Awareness Day at the theme park in Pigeon Forge.
A stage performance of " Babes in Toyland" came alive for Connie Smith and other deaf visitors thanks to Teressa Gregory. She's one of dozens of interpreters who volunteered their time for Deaf Awareness Day.
Connie Smith appreciates it. "Well, I'm deaf and I'm visual and it's hard for me to see what's going on so having the interpreters here helps me understand everything."
Deaf awareness day helped the hearing impaired enjoy the shows. It's also an opportunity for interpreters to stretch their sign language skills
"Interpreting for the performing arts is a lot different from just community interpreting," explained Charis Davis, who works as an interpreter for the Knoxville Center for the Deaf. "It takes a lot of rehearsal time, practice time and just prep time in general."
The work interpreters put in to the performance is apparent even to those who aren't hearing impaired.
"It certainly sparks some discussion with people who may not have been exposed to that previously," said Pete Owens with Dollywood.
The interpreters get positive feedback from both non-hearing and hearing visitors.
Charis Davis said, "I have people come up and say they enjoy watching it even though they may not understand the signs."
The signs help Connie Smith follow the story in the "Babe in Toyland" performance.
And Teressa Gregory lends her voice to interpret for her, when she was asked how this Dollywood experience compared to previous visits.
"Oh, I like it a lot better with interpreters," said Smith. "Without the interpreters I just ride the rides and that's really all I do."
She has so much more to do with interpreters assisting throughout the park.
Dollywood usually hosts Deaf Awareness Day twice a year, once in the summer and once in the winter.
