Miss-Delectable
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Technology Brings Santa's Cheer To The Deaf - News
What the Johnson family's house lacks in noise it makes up for in spirit -- with the help of Santa and something called Hands On Video Relay Service.
Most families know the chaotic drill, waiting to talk to Santa at the mall, replete with noise and crowds.
But some kids, like Fremont's Jaylen Johnson, get a house call -- or at least a cyber call.
"Santa Claus is going to be here. Santa Claus came all the way down just to see you. He wants to talk to you on the video relay," says his father, Derek Johnson.
AS NBC11's Laura Garcia-Cannon learned, the Johnsons have Santa on direct-dial.
With the help of some good ol' technology and an interpreter, Santa is learning about Jaylen's Christmas list despite the fact that Jaylen is deaf and can't speak.
Santa inquires, "You've been a good boy, right?"
Jaylen answers, "Yes."
"What do you want for Christmas?" Santa asks. "A car? What kind of car?"
Jaylen also has some important questions for Santa.
He wants to know about reindeer, if they're going to come.
They're up north," Santa tells him.
Jaylen tells Santa he wants to see Rudolph and all his reindeer friends.
"No problem, we'll pick you up and we'll take you for a sleigh ride all over with snow and the nice Christmas lights showing," Santa answers.
Believe it or not, the technology is free. It's provided by a company called Hands On Video Relay Service.
"It's nice to have this, it's very special to have this for two children in the house," Derek Johnson says.
Hands On provides services far beyond Santa. The Johnson family uses it for many things in their every day lives.
"I can talk to anyone directly and speak like anyone else could," Johnson says.
For Jaylen though, it's all about communicating with Santa.
Thank you, thank you, thank you ... I want a tiger, too" he says.
"OK," Santa replies, "I'll put that on the list."
What the Johnson family's house lacks in noise it makes up for in spirit -- with the help of Santa and something called Hands On Video Relay Service.
Most families know the chaotic drill, waiting to talk to Santa at the mall, replete with noise and crowds.
But some kids, like Fremont's Jaylen Johnson, get a house call -- or at least a cyber call.
"Santa Claus is going to be here. Santa Claus came all the way down just to see you. He wants to talk to you on the video relay," says his father, Derek Johnson.
AS NBC11's Laura Garcia-Cannon learned, the Johnsons have Santa on direct-dial.
With the help of some good ol' technology and an interpreter, Santa is learning about Jaylen's Christmas list despite the fact that Jaylen is deaf and can't speak.
Santa inquires, "You've been a good boy, right?"
Jaylen answers, "Yes."
"What do you want for Christmas?" Santa asks. "A car? What kind of car?"
Jaylen also has some important questions for Santa.
He wants to know about reindeer, if they're going to come.
They're up north," Santa tells him.
Jaylen tells Santa he wants to see Rudolph and all his reindeer friends.
"No problem, we'll pick you up and we'll take you for a sleigh ride all over with snow and the nice Christmas lights showing," Santa answers.
Believe it or not, the technology is free. It's provided by a company called Hands On Video Relay Service.
"It's nice to have this, it's very special to have this for two children in the house," Derek Johnson says.
Hands On provides services far beyond Santa. The Johnson family uses it for many things in their every day lives.
"I can talk to anyone directly and speak like anyone else could," Johnson says.
For Jaylen though, it's all about communicating with Santa.
Thank you, thank you, thank you ... I want a tiger, too" he says.
"OK," Santa replies, "I'll put that on the list."