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Pilot Club of Greater Gainesville brings Santa to hearing impaired children at Norton Elementary School | Gainesville.com
A Nerf gun for Joshua and a dolly for Phoebe helped fill Friday with holiday cheer at Norton Elementary School as the local Pilot Club brought the signing Santa to see deaf and hearing-impaired students.
“I’ve been hearing you’ve been nice all year,” said Santa, who bore a striking resemblance to retiree Hank Reidelberger. “You haven’t picked on your teachers.”
Not so fast, joked teacher Allie Cohn.
The annual tradition of deaf and hearing-impaired children signing their wishes, sponsored by the Pilot Club of Greater Gainesville, was a bit different this year.
The Pilot Club, an organization that focuses on brain-related disorders and disabilities, tapped Reidelberger to lead the sleigh after Ed Mills hung up his big red suit following more than a decade as signing Santa.
One student asked if Santa’s son would take over since Santa had retired. Cohn said she wasn’t sure before Reidelberger walked in.
“My reindeer, I left out in the parking lot,” he said.
Elijah Andrews, 7, walked up to Santa, signed his name quickly and grabbed his present.
His mother, Tracy Andrews, said she doesn’t think other people understand that her son doesn’t speak. The signing Santa gives him a chance to share his wish list.
“I just like to see him interact with Santa and getting a part of Christmas,” she said.
Reidelberger, 63, grew up in a deaf household. Both parents worked at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. Signing came easy for him on Friday, but it was hard to talk through his thick beard.
“It doesn’t speak well for me, but I can wear this suit without any padding,” he said jokingly.
Watching the children get excited to receive their presents is the purpose, he said.
“Some parents don’t communicate that well with their children, whether they are hard-of-hearing or deaf,” he said. “Sometimes it’s nice to have someone to relay what the kids want for Christmas — just like parents do for Santa.”
Joshua Kittrell, 11, said he missed the previous Santa, who drove a scooter last year rather than a sleigh.
But the new Santa filled in pretty well, Joshua said. He hopes to get a Nintendo DS game for Christmas.
“I saw a big box under the tree,” he said. “I’ll be surprised if I get that.”
Jackie Klein, president of the local organization, also handed out a present for the teachers — a $100 donation to the school’s library fund.
A Nerf gun for Joshua and a dolly for Phoebe helped fill Friday with holiday cheer at Norton Elementary School as the local Pilot Club brought the signing Santa to see deaf and hearing-impaired students.
“I’ve been hearing you’ve been nice all year,” said Santa, who bore a striking resemblance to retiree Hank Reidelberger. “You haven’t picked on your teachers.”
Not so fast, joked teacher Allie Cohn.
The annual tradition of deaf and hearing-impaired children signing their wishes, sponsored by the Pilot Club of Greater Gainesville, was a bit different this year.
The Pilot Club, an organization that focuses on brain-related disorders and disabilities, tapped Reidelberger to lead the sleigh after Ed Mills hung up his big red suit following more than a decade as signing Santa.
One student asked if Santa’s son would take over since Santa had retired. Cohn said she wasn’t sure before Reidelberger walked in.
“My reindeer, I left out in the parking lot,” he said.
Elijah Andrews, 7, walked up to Santa, signed his name quickly and grabbed his present.
His mother, Tracy Andrews, said she doesn’t think other people understand that her son doesn’t speak. The signing Santa gives him a chance to share his wish list.
“I just like to see him interact with Santa and getting a part of Christmas,” she said.
Reidelberger, 63, grew up in a deaf household. Both parents worked at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. Signing came easy for him on Friday, but it was hard to talk through his thick beard.
“It doesn’t speak well for me, but I can wear this suit without any padding,” he said jokingly.
Watching the children get excited to receive their presents is the purpose, he said.
“Some parents don’t communicate that well with their children, whether they are hard-of-hearing or deaf,” he said. “Sometimes it’s nice to have someone to relay what the kids want for Christmas — just like parents do for Santa.”
Joshua Kittrell, 11, said he missed the previous Santa, who drove a scooter last year rather than a sleigh.
But the new Santa filled in pretty well, Joshua said. He hopes to get a Nintendo DS game for Christmas.
“I saw a big box under the tree,” he said. “I’ll be surprised if I get that.”
Jackie Klein, president of the local organization, also handed out a present for the teachers — a $100 donation to the school’s library fund.