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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/lo...ta04dec04,0,1573172.story?coll=sfla-news-palm
About two dozen hearing-impaired and deaf children gathered Saturday at First Christian Church for a holiday celebration featuring safety education and a "signing" Santa.
The annual celebration is put on by the Deaf Service Center of Palm Beach County, which serves the approximately 150,000 hearing-impaired and deaf children and adults in the county.
Fred Schott, the outreach and education coordinator for the center, said the holiday parties featuring baked goodies such as cookies and cake give kids a chance to interact with their peers who have the same obstacles to overcome.
"The kids don't get a chance to socialize a lot," Schott said. "We've been focusing the last few years on doing something fun and educational."
This year featured public-safety demonstrations by firefighters, who showed the children how to dial 911 on special phones. Parents also could sign up for the installation of fire alarms that have powerful strobe lights.
Leon Jablonski of Loxahatchee brought his deaf daughter, Lynni, 9, to the celebration. She attends the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine. Father and daughter have belonged to the Deaf Service Center for several years.
"It's a good association. They lead you in the right direction, where you need to go, how to solve the problems," said Jablonski, adding his daughter can feel isolated by her hearing loss. "She's still basically missing out on activities with other children because she's deaf."
Cassie Shumate and her 13-year-old son, Dallas, who is hearing impaired, are members of the church and active with the Deaf Service Center. She said one of the great roles played by the Deaf Service Center is to introduce the children to hearing-impaired adults who live normal, busy lives.
"The professionals they meet are great role models," Shumate said.
Dallas, who wears hearing aids, takes the opportunity to improve his sign-language skills whenever he can. "I think it's cool that you can talk with the other kids," he said.
The Deaf Service Center distributes free specialized telephones for the hearing impaired and the deaf, and offers a range of services to help people with their hearing loss.
Martin Bystrycki, 52, of Wellington also wears hearing aids. His wife works for the center and tapped him to play Santa Claus this year, for the first time. Bystricki, who has a puffy white beard, figured he was ready to give it a go.
"The funny thing is," he said, "it's the first time I've grown a beard."
About two dozen hearing-impaired and deaf children gathered Saturday at First Christian Church for a holiday celebration featuring safety education and a "signing" Santa.
The annual celebration is put on by the Deaf Service Center of Palm Beach County, which serves the approximately 150,000 hearing-impaired and deaf children and adults in the county.
Fred Schott, the outreach and education coordinator for the center, said the holiday parties featuring baked goodies such as cookies and cake give kids a chance to interact with their peers who have the same obstacles to overcome.
"The kids don't get a chance to socialize a lot," Schott said. "We've been focusing the last few years on doing something fun and educational."
This year featured public-safety demonstrations by firefighters, who showed the children how to dial 911 on special phones. Parents also could sign up for the installation of fire alarms that have powerful strobe lights.
Leon Jablonski of Loxahatchee brought his deaf daughter, Lynni, 9, to the celebration. She attends the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine. Father and daughter have belonged to the Deaf Service Center for several years.
"It's a good association. They lead you in the right direction, where you need to go, how to solve the problems," said Jablonski, adding his daughter can feel isolated by her hearing loss. "She's still basically missing out on activities with other children because she's deaf."
Cassie Shumate and her 13-year-old son, Dallas, who is hearing impaired, are members of the church and active with the Deaf Service Center. She said one of the great roles played by the Deaf Service Center is to introduce the children to hearing-impaired adults who live normal, busy lives.
"The professionals they meet are great role models," Shumate said.
Dallas, who wears hearing aids, takes the opportunity to improve his sign-language skills whenever he can. "I think it's cool that you can talk with the other kids," he said.
The Deaf Service Center distributes free specialized telephones for the hearing impaired and the deaf, and offers a range of services to help people with their hearing loss.
Martin Bystrycki, 52, of Wellington also wears hearing aids. His wife works for the center and tapped him to play Santa Claus this year, for the first time. Bystricki, who has a puffy white beard, figured he was ready to give it a go.
"The funny thing is," he said, "it's the first time I've grown a beard."