Newton Neighborhood Learns Sign Language For Baby In Town

AUBRNDALE, MA — We all need examples of goodness in this world pointed out to us from time to time. And recently, the Boston Globe pointed out a whole neighborhood of good in the form of a spontaneous act of fellowship and community right here in Auburndale.

When a new couple moved to Islington Road about three years ago, they were met with cookies, and that familiar sense of community known to villages like Nonantum and Auburndale, where neighbors shovel each others driveways and check in on out those around them. And then when Glenda and Raphael Savitz had a baby and learned she was diagnosed as deaf, they set to learning sign language. And they were floored by what happened next.

Nearly two dozen Islington Road neighbors of all ages took it upon themselves to learn a new language, just to communicate with their newest - and youngest - neighbor. They hired an instructor and got started learning the basics of American Sign Language in a living room.

READ THE FULL GLOBE COLUMN: When a Newton family welcomed a baby who is deaf, 20 neighbors learned sign language

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Photo of part of the word "Friend" by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff, the letter Y credit: Shutterstock.