As the Holiday Season rolls around the corner, Hoover High School’s ASL (American Sign Language) Club hosts their annual Deaf Kids Christmas Party. The party is filled with interactive games, delicious food and inclusive entertainment. Many kids and families in the community look forward to it each year. It gives kids the opportunity to sign with a Deaf Santa who can communicate with them.
The party requires a significant amount of preparation to ensure the party runs smoothly. Both ASL students and teachers worked extremely hard for months prior to the party. ASL II and III teacher, Mrs. Susan Cammel, talks about the preparation process for the party.
“In reality, it is all year for Mrs. Mooney and myself,” she said. “We hunt prizes at the after-Christmas sales. We have a meeting with Triad and other members in January to discuss the recent party and plans for the coming year. We hold a fundraiser in September to raise money for prizes and decorations. We start having weekly prep meetings in November to make things and practice our entertainment. Mrs. Mooney and myself do a lot of work making things on our own.”
During the party, kids of all ages play a variety of games and activities, which are run by ASL club students. From Candy Cane toss to a scavenger hunt, there are games for every kid to enjoy. ASL I teacher, Mrs. Victoria Mooney talks about all of the activities that happened during the party.
“We had seventeen total games this year,” she said. “We had face painting, which is really popular with the kids. During the party, we had the cake walk which was a new activity this year. The kids also love making the reindeer food. After most of the games, all of the kids won a bag of prizes to take home.”
“This year, I ran the cakewalk and interpreted a Christmas song along with fellow club members,” she said. “It was really fun to get the adults involved in the games and see everyone excited to participate.”
The party is always filled with many games and activities. For some, their favorite part is watching the ASL song, while others enjoy the variety of games to play. Mrs. Mooney tells us about her favorite part of the party.
“My favorite part of the party is when my students perform their song,” she said. “Meeting the Deaf kids is fun and the games are a lot of fun. We did the cake walk this year to bring the Deaf adults to mingle with the kids. Usually, the party is separated but we made it a point this year to mix them together.”
Santa is an important part of many children’s Christmas experience. Mrs. Cammel talks about why having a Deaf Santa is vital to have for the kids.
“Many Deaf also have never been able to talk to Santa,” she said. “Last Saturday we had a Deaf child sit on Santa’s lap and give [him] her whole Christmas list. We also love that Deaf adults from the community come to be role models for our deaf children. Sometimes deaf children think when they grow up they will be hearing because they have never met any deaf adults.”
Having an inclusive Christmas Party is important for the community. Kids in the North Canton community look forward to socializing with other people in the Deaf community. Mrs. Cammel talks about why she believes an inclusive party is essential.
“90% of deaf children live with hearing parents and siblings who for the most part do not sign or enhance the culture,” she said. “We don’t have this party to shame them, but give the whole family a reason to celebrate their differences. This party’s focus is the whole family with deafness in the center. Notice I didn’t say ASL, because we welcome, deaf, hoh, deaf/blind, and oral deaf. We just want to celebrate the uniqueness of those with hearing loss.”
