With an instructor and certified signer in the car, Dykema recently nailed an obstacle course in a school parking lot. He edged a Chevy TrailBlazer through tight spaces and twirled around cones, then showed masterful parking.

Mike never thought his hearing -- 90 percent with hearing aids, about nil without -- would be an issue.

Earlier, he navigated stretches of Int. 96 and U.S. 131, accompanied by an instructor and a certified signer.

"He's really good," instructor Brian Bollone said. "He's got a great sense of where his car is. He's got great visual acuity."

Northview is Kent County's depot for hearing-impaired students looking to obtain driver's licenses. This year, there are two in the program: Dykema, and Mike Atwood, 15, who also attends Northview.

Mike Atwood's hearing is also about 90 percent with his cochlear implant, zero without. He was born deaf and got his first hearing device when he was 3.

"It would be harder, but if I never had this (implant), I'd still be able to drive," he said.

No amount of hearing is required to drive in Michigan, according to the Secretary of State's office. Hearing-impaired students are allowed to have a signer with them on the road test, but it's optional.

Sheri LeBarre, a certified signer, accompanies hearing-impaired students on trial runs and road tests. In addition to traditional signing, she incorporates signals. Hand up means go faster. Hand down means take it easy.

"They interpret very quickly," she said.

LeBarre is one of three signers who works with the students. Once on their own, they're no different than anyone else on the road, she said.

"The only thing hearing-impaired individuals can't do is hear," LeBarre said.

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