One thing the deaf miss out on when growing up is the fun of seeing a signing Santa at a shopping mall. Even if they did sit on a Santa's lap, they could not communicate with the Santa.

Signing Santas began in the late '70s. Over the years they have become a staple at many shopping malls across the country. At others, it is a relatively new tradition. Newspapers run short pieces and photos, usually with a title like "Santa Claus speaks to deaf children in their language." Some malls have signed entertainment, story-telling or signing choirs, along with the signing Santas.

Both hearing and deaf people can be signing santas. The only requirement is the ability to sign, a little rotundity doesn't hurt, and of course the ability to get along with small children and the young at heart.

At a Christmas party given by a local deaf association that had a signing Santa, I realized that it is not just deaf children who need a signing Santa - hearing children with deaf parents, do too! Unless the Santa signs to their child, how is the deaf parent going to know what Santa is saying to their child? Maybe Santa's helper will interpret for deaf moms and dads? It's a thought.

I'd like to see more signing Santas, and I'd like them to be available for more than just a few days. Sometimes they are available for only one day during the entire Christmas season! Parents of deaf or hard of hearing children and deaf parents of hearing children are just as entitled to opportunities to bring in their children to see Santa. We still don't have enough of them. Sadly, the shopping mall near us (Boardman, Ohio) has never had one.

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