Silent Sleigh Brings Christmas To The Deaf

Deaf and hard-of-hearing children were able to celebrate the holiday season with their peers on Tuesday during the Silent Sleigh event at Carmichael's .

The annual event, now in its 20th year, offers holiday games and arts and crafts for students from 12 surrounding counties and school districts, said Tami Levano, an information and referral specialist for event organizer Nor Cal Services For Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Among the groups Tuesday were students from the San Juan Unified School District as well as Yolo County and Lodi.

Attendees could decorate cookies, make gifts, meet with representatives from the California School for the Deaf and companies with products for the deaf and even take a photo with Santa Claus who was able to do sign language with them.

Thanks to Silent Sleigh, parents of the deaf and hard of hearing are able socialize with other parents like them, Leslie Birchell of Elk Grove, who is deaf, said through a translator.

"It's a good opportunity to share sign language (techniques) and learn about deaf culture and immersion," Birchell said. "Instead of being spread out, this brings people together."

Deaf parents also bring their hearing children so that they can see other families like them, she said.

Devon Carter, who is deaf, said he remembered attending Silent Sleigh as a boy.

"My son (Kevin, six months) needs to come every year," Carter said. "It's great."

Levano said deaf adults return to volunteer with kids and area high school students who are not deaf help as well.

"This is a cultural event... where people make new acquaintances and see old friends," she said. "For them, this is like coming back to family."

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