10th Annual Signing Santa Event One of the Best Yet
The 2019 edition of the annual Deaf Santa event was one of the best ones yet.
A record-number 57 children came to the early-December event and were joined by parents, grandparents, friends and more, bringing the total number of attendees to 120-130. Add in another 30 volunteers, including five D&HHS board members, plus coverage from three local media outlets, and it all made for a fun and festive two hours, including gifts, crafts, a signed story reading and, of course, time with Santa.
For D&HHS executive director Deb Atwood, the Signing Santa event is always a highlight.
“It’s our favorite event of the year,” she says unequivocally. “To see a child who is Deaf have that experience with a Deaf Santa who literally speaks their language takes my breath away every time.”
Atwood recalled for one TV station how early in the event’s history, a little girl saw Santa signing, recognized her opportunity, ran up to him to sit in his lap and had a long conversation with him, the first time she’d been able to communicate with Santa. “All of us volunteers were crying,” Atwood said, her eyes welling up even years later as she recounted the story. “That’s what it’s all about — that these kids have a voice, and their voice is through sign language.”
Santa was equally enthusiastic.
“From my experience, I’ve really enjoyed seeing all of the kids, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing kids be able to have access to communicate with Santa Claus,” Santa told WZZM reporter Kylie Ambu. “That really makes them very happy and it makes me feel so happy for them that they’re thankful for this opportunity.”
The event included not just Santa but also numerous interpreters so that everyone had access, one of the D&HHS hallmarks for every event it does. Interpreters were at the entrance, at the crafts, with Santa and there for the story time, and every station had both ASL to English and English to ASL interpreters.
Also critical to the event’s success, said Atwood, were donors, including Gills Family Chiropractic, the Quota Club of Grand Rapids, Cap Tel (David Greenwood), Ellie Wright, Cindy DeFreese, Nancy Gingery, Jennifer Lyons, Jessica Miller, Kathleen Freeman and Sandy Faulkner.
Link to Photo Gallery from Event