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CourierNews :: Signing Santa visits with children with hearing loss in Elgin
Deaf children and those with hearing loss gathered with their families recently at Country Trails School in Elgin for a holiday party.
“We hold this event for families because it’s a great time for them to get together and socialize,” said Karen Bogdan, supervisor of the Northwestern Illinois Association hearing impaired program. “The kids and their parents look forward to it. The staff donated the door prizes and worked very hard to put it together.”
Burlington Village President Kathy Loos came to the party to watch her daughter Joy, 5, perform the song “Mambo Santa Mambo” with other preschool through fifth grade students.
“I think this is so special that they do this for the kids at Christmas,” Loos said. “The kids work very hard. You can see the outcome of such fabulous teachers.”
Speech pathologist Kristen Nawracaj of Plainfield said the children learned the song in two weeks. All of the NIA program instructors, including auditory skills teacher Amy Timonen, helped the children with the song.
The NIA holiday party has become an annual tradition for many families.
“We come every year,” said Gloria Gonzalez of Sleepy Hollow. “This is one of the few times we can meet with other parents of hearing impaired children.”
Igor and Stacy Zapadinsky of Cortland came to the party with their children Caleb, 7; Kaela, 4; and Hanna, 3. The parents and their three children are all hearing-impaired. After Igor told the crowd that it was Stacy’s birthday, everyone sang and/or signed “Happy Birthday” to her.
Clown John McDonough of Streamwood came to the party for the first time to hand out trinkets and entertain the crowd. A signing Santa visited with the children to learn what they wanted for Christmas.
“The children know that this is Santa because the real Santa would know how to sign,” Bogdan said.
Representatives from Sorenson Communications, Purple Communications, and The Z offered information about their videophone systems. The systems make it easier for deaf and hearing impaired people who use sign language to communicate with hearing people.
The NIA rents space in Community Unit District 301 schools for instruction level classes for the deaf and hard of hearing. Bogdan said there are currently 65 students from Kane and DeKalb counties in the program. They range in age from preschool to high school.
Deaf children and those with hearing loss gathered with their families recently at Country Trails School in Elgin for a holiday party.
“We hold this event for families because it’s a great time for them to get together and socialize,” said Karen Bogdan, supervisor of the Northwestern Illinois Association hearing impaired program. “The kids and their parents look forward to it. The staff donated the door prizes and worked very hard to put it together.”
Burlington Village President Kathy Loos came to the party to watch her daughter Joy, 5, perform the song “Mambo Santa Mambo” with other preschool through fifth grade students.
“I think this is so special that they do this for the kids at Christmas,” Loos said. “The kids work very hard. You can see the outcome of such fabulous teachers.”
Speech pathologist Kristen Nawracaj of Plainfield said the children learned the song in two weeks. All of the NIA program instructors, including auditory skills teacher Amy Timonen, helped the children with the song.
The NIA holiday party has become an annual tradition for many families.
“We come every year,” said Gloria Gonzalez of Sleepy Hollow. “This is one of the few times we can meet with other parents of hearing impaired children.”
Igor and Stacy Zapadinsky of Cortland came to the party with their children Caleb, 7; Kaela, 4; and Hanna, 3. The parents and their three children are all hearing-impaired. After Igor told the crowd that it was Stacy’s birthday, everyone sang and/or signed “Happy Birthday” to her.
Clown John McDonough of Streamwood came to the party for the first time to hand out trinkets and entertain the crowd. A signing Santa visited with the children to learn what they wanted for Christmas.
“The children know that this is Santa because the real Santa would know how to sign,” Bogdan said.
Representatives from Sorenson Communications, Purple Communications, and The Z offered information about their videophone systems. The systems make it easier for deaf and hearing impaired people who use sign language to communicate with hearing people.
The NIA rents space in Community Unit District 301 schools for instruction level classes for the deaf and hard of hearing. Bogdan said there are currently 65 students from Kane and DeKalb counties in the program. They range in age from preschool to high school.