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February 16, 2006
Show me a sign
Debbie Pampalone learned sign language before she could talk. Her deaf parents taught her the basics, like "milk" and "hungry" from the start. Pampalone, an interpreter from Merrillville-based Deaf Services, returned the favor Wednesday to a slightly older group of children during a talk at Hayes Leonard Elementary School. Her presentation was part of a districtwide initiative to raise diversity awareness.
Pampalone said she was thrilled to be a part of the programming.
"(Sign language is) equivalent to learning another language," she said. "That awareness is very important."
Pampalone taught the students the alphabet and numbers, along with how to sign "Happy Birthday." Several of the students demonstrated on the spot, signing their names and telephone numbers.
Third-graders Emily Ball and Ryan Wexelberg both learned a lot from the presentation and were anxious to practice -- but there was a small problem: There are no deaf students at the school and neither student knows any deaf people.
Maybe, Emily thought out loud, she'll use it "if we ... ever get a deaf person."
"Yeah," Ryan added, "or if we ever meet a deaf person."
By Elizabeth Holmes
http://nwitimes.com/articles/2006/02/16/news/porter_county/5ae5dccd02d4a22e862571170006db08.txt
Posted by 4HL on February 16, 2006 8:15 AM
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