Signing Santas

Posted by
Lynn Moore
Nov 26, 2006

Certainly background noise in a mall makes it hard to hear for everyone, and much more so for the child with a hearing loss.

Signing Santas exist! Although they are few and have schedules with limited hours, the guys with the red suits and signing hands are out there.

How can you find a signing Santa?

Check with your mall to see if they have one. If not, suggest that they consider getting one.
Call your child's teacher to find out if she knows of one.
Check to see if a school employee who knows sign language, would consider the part.
Check with deaf adult groups to see who might be interested in playing the part.
Contact an interpreter training program. Here is one Santa's story.

If you find a would-be Santa without a suit, full Santa attire is available at most costume shops.

Once you find a signing Santa, help him spread the word. The more children who get to talk with him, the better. After all, besides pictures, the purpose is to give a little one a chance to express a Christmas wish list.

Note: I have found it most helpful to prepare hearing impaired kids for Santa's visit.

Let the kids cut pictures from ads and catalogs to make a picture wish list. (Some kids will be old enough to write a label for each picture - a great vocabulary builder. Other kids will be able to write a list without pictures. If your Santa is from an adult deaf club, he may unaware of some of the trendy toys, so pictures will help the jolly fellow as well.)
Practice what will happen when Santa comes - or the child goes to see Santa.

What is is like to be a deaf child and not have a signing Santa? Read one person's childhood memories.

Here are the locations of some signing Santas: