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Nashville Zoo's Deaf Day draws crowds, interpreters | The Tennessean | tennessean.com
Suzanne Russell was all smiles Saturday as she watched a keeper talk at the Bengal Tiger exhibit at the Nashville Zoo.
Thanks to a sign language interpreter, she could understand it.
“If no interpreter is here, it's boring for me,” the 46-year-old Lafayette, Tenn., woman said through an interpreter.
“With an interpreter present, it's a whole different experience. I can learn about the different animals. I can hear the different presentations.”
Russell, who is deaf, was at the zoo with her boyfriend, John Estelle, 49, and niece Emily Gann, 3, for the sixth annual Deaf Day at the Zoo, presented in partnership with Franklin-based nonprofit Gate Communications.
“The Zoo would love to be able to do a day for the deaf every day, but we just don’t have the trained personnel or the resources to provide everyone on staff with training in sign language,” said Jim Bartoo, zoo spokesman.
That’s where Gate Communications came in, he added.
“The zoo can provide a day we normally provide, but with a little extra,” he said. “We have keeper talks every day and docents every day.
“Anytime people come to the zoo they can learn about animals. That’s a given all the time, but to be able to have someone next to them that can communicate in sign language adds an extra dimension to that.”
Samantha Terzis, executive director and one of the three founders of Gate Communications, first approached the zoo six years ago, said Bartoo.
On Saturday, Terzis camped out near the zoo exit to provide information to guests. She said the organization brought in 29 volunteers to serve as interpreters.
Jodi Upton was among them.
Upton, 42, of Ringgold, Ga., drove two hours to Nashville to offer her services. It was her second year to participate, but she says she plans to come back as long as the event is offered.
“The zoo here is beautiful, the people are amazing and they treat us so well,” said Upton, who became interested in being an interpreter in the fourth grade after a classmate taught the class how to finger sign.
“I'd drive here every year because it's really worth it. The turnout is always fabulous and everyone has a good time.”
Each year, Gate Communications reaches out to the Deaf community across the U.S. to promote the zoo event. Calls are made nationally, and posters and postcards are sent out across the state, said Terzis, a Nashville resident.
“This year, we've seen participants from Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky in addition to those from Tennessee,” she said.
“It’s not just another Deaf event, it’s about creating permanent memories for them.”
Russell heard about the event through Facebook, she said.
Saturday was her third visit to the zoo for Deaf Day, but it was a first for boyfriend Estelle and neice Emily.
“Every year, there's something new,” she said through an interpreter. “There are new animals or new rides for the kids, something. It's not just about the zoo experience, it's about the fellowship within the Deaf community.”
According to Bartoo, the event has drawn a steady number of visitors year after year.
Last year, 208 participants came out to the zoo. The year before, 204 came out, and in 2008, 221 came.
As of 3 p.m., Terzis reported an attendance of about 180 this year, but the event still had an hour left.
That was in addition to the zoo's overall attendance of about 3,000 for the day, officials said.
“It's been good,” said Terzis. “We've had people here who had never been to a zoo before, which is awesome.”
Suzanne Russell was all smiles Saturday as she watched a keeper talk at the Bengal Tiger exhibit at the Nashville Zoo.
Thanks to a sign language interpreter, she could understand it.
“If no interpreter is here, it's boring for me,” the 46-year-old Lafayette, Tenn., woman said through an interpreter.
“With an interpreter present, it's a whole different experience. I can learn about the different animals. I can hear the different presentations.”
Russell, who is deaf, was at the zoo with her boyfriend, John Estelle, 49, and niece Emily Gann, 3, for the sixth annual Deaf Day at the Zoo, presented in partnership with Franklin-based nonprofit Gate Communications.
“The Zoo would love to be able to do a day for the deaf every day, but we just don’t have the trained personnel or the resources to provide everyone on staff with training in sign language,” said Jim Bartoo, zoo spokesman.
That’s where Gate Communications came in, he added.
“The zoo can provide a day we normally provide, but with a little extra,” he said. “We have keeper talks every day and docents every day.
“Anytime people come to the zoo they can learn about animals. That’s a given all the time, but to be able to have someone next to them that can communicate in sign language adds an extra dimension to that.”
Samantha Terzis, executive director and one of the three founders of Gate Communications, first approached the zoo six years ago, said Bartoo.
On Saturday, Terzis camped out near the zoo exit to provide information to guests. She said the organization brought in 29 volunteers to serve as interpreters.
Jodi Upton was among them.
Upton, 42, of Ringgold, Ga., drove two hours to Nashville to offer her services. It was her second year to participate, but she says she plans to come back as long as the event is offered.
“The zoo here is beautiful, the people are amazing and they treat us so well,” said Upton, who became interested in being an interpreter in the fourth grade after a classmate taught the class how to finger sign.
“I'd drive here every year because it's really worth it. The turnout is always fabulous and everyone has a good time.”
Each year, Gate Communications reaches out to the Deaf community across the U.S. to promote the zoo event. Calls are made nationally, and posters and postcards are sent out across the state, said Terzis, a Nashville resident.
“This year, we've seen participants from Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky in addition to those from Tennessee,” she said.
“It’s not just another Deaf event, it’s about creating permanent memories for them.”
Russell heard about the event through Facebook, she said.
Saturday was her third visit to the zoo for Deaf Day, but it was a first for boyfriend Estelle and neice Emily.
“Every year, there's something new,” she said through an interpreter. “There are new animals or new rides for the kids, something. It's not just about the zoo experience, it's about the fellowship within the Deaf community.”
According to Bartoo, the event has drawn a steady number of visitors year after year.
Last year, 208 participants came out to the zoo. The year before, 204 came out, and in 2008, 221 came.
As of 3 p.m., Terzis reported an attendance of about 180 this year, but the event still had an hour left.
That was in addition to the zoo's overall attendance of about 3,000 for the day, officials said.
“It's been good,” said Terzis. “We've had people here who had never been to a zoo before, which is awesome.”