And Santa understood.

Chuck Pugh, a signing Santa who is hearing impaired, has been playing the role of Santa for 13 years for hearing impaired and blind students who come to visit Kris Kringle at Colonial Mall Bel Air. This year marked the 33rd anniversary of the annual event, sponsored by the mall.

The 28-year-old Pugh was 16, a sophomore at the Southwest Regional School for the Deaf and Blind, when he started volunteering as the signing Santa at the mall.

Pugh said it is a way for him to give back.

Sitting in his big, green velvet chair outlined in gold, he recalled the days when he sat in Santa's lap and used sign language to tell Santa his wish list.

Translating for her son, Jeanne Pugh said, "It made him feel normal, not different."

Gaye Butler, the marketing director for the mall, said Pugh came to them when he was 16 and asked if he could be the Santa "because he loved it."

He's been suiting up every year since.

"This is what Christmas is about," Butler said.

Last week, students from Pugh's former school, the Mobile Preschool for the Sensory Impaired, the Learning Tree and Daphne Elementary School waited for the chance to see Santa.

Some of the children had pictures of the things they wanted for Christmas. Others didn't need help remembering what to tell Santa.

Dressed in a red sweat shirt, khaki skirt and tights, Madison Farnell, 6, watched intently as Santa used his white-gloved hands to find out what was on her list.

The Saraland girl wanted a motorcycle, car and a doll.

"Have you been a good girl?" Santa asked.

"I've been a good girl," Madison responded.

Before she climbed down, Santa had one more thing to say. Pugh held up his index finger and pinkie finger, the sign for "I love you."

Daphne Farnell never misses the event.

Watching her daughter Madison with Santa the first time several years ago helped her cope with her daughter's hearing impairment.

"It was the first time that gave me a ray of hope she could live a normal life," said Madison's mother. "The children were signing and smiling and living a normal life."

Connie Segler said it allows the children to talk to Santa in sign language, something they can't do with a regular Santa.

"It gives them the opportunity to come and tell Santa what they want for Christmas," said Segler, whose 4-year-old son Matthew is hearing impaired. "It gives him an opportunity to get his picture made with Santa.

"It makes my heart glow."

"It's amazing to know he would do that for the children," said Janie Rowell, as she watched her 3-year-old son, Gabe Mitchum, who is hearing impaired, in Santa's lap for the first time. "It was awesome to see that smile on his face."

Tears swelling in her eyes, Pat Allen found it difficult to explain how she felt as she watched her grandson, 10-year-old Robert Langley, talk to Santa.

"This is all he talks about, looking forward to coming out here and telling him in person what he wants," Allen said. "I think it's the most loving gift, the signing Santa."

By Renee Busby
http://www.al.com/living/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/living/113438270158690.xml&coll=3