Sign-language Santa 'talks' holiday wishes with hearing-impaired kids

Posted December 20, 2018 10:00 pm

Submitted by Aurora Noon Lions Club

Auroran Manuel Esparza, 11, visits with a sign-language Santa and Jeanne McDonald, left, hearing impaired teacher at Allen Elementary School in Aurora, Dec. 11 at the annual holiday party. Courtesy of Aurora Noon Lions Club

Aurora-area hearing-impaired kids used American Sign Language to talk Christmas wishes with Santa Claus Dec. 11 at Luigi's Pizza in Aurora.

About 80 students, caregivers and teachers from West Aurora Unit District 129 and East Aurora Unit District 131 were guests of Aurora Noon Lions at a 12th annual holiday party featuring pizza, desserts and gifts.

Aurora Noon Lions partnered in the event with Sycamore-based Northeastern Illinois Association, a regional special-education cooperative that serves children with autism, hearing impairment and vision impairment from 10 northern Illinois counties.

Kathy Reuter, NIA St. Charles office supervisor, coordinated the celebration.

Speech pathologists and sign-language interpreters from East and West school districts accompanied students.

Aurora Noon Lion Bill Poss, Luigi's owner, hosted the party with club members. Dick Schindel, Arvid Meyer, Kathy Long and Jeff Anderson.

Angel Velasquez, 6, and Aldo Sanchez-Mata, 9, both of Aurora visit with a sign-language Santa and Aurora Noon Lion Arvid Meyer, left, Dec. 11 at a 12th annual holiday party for hearing impaired kids. Courtesy of Aurora Noon Lions Club

Aurora Noon Lions from left Arvid Meyer, Dick Schindel and Jeff Anderson staff the beverage station at a 12th annual holiday party for hearing impaired kids featuring pizza, desserts and gifts Dec. 11. Courtesy of Aurora Noon Lions Club

Aurora Noon Lions Arvid Meyer, left, and Dick Schindel fill gift buckets for a sign-language Santa to distribute to kids at a 12th annual holiday party for hearing impaired kids featuring pizza, desserts and gifts Dec. 11 at Luigi's Pizza in Aurora. Courtesy of Aurora Noon Lions Club

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