Signing Santa Came to Town

Tommy Wellbrock, 3-1/2, of Mineola, spoke recently with a very special Santa Claus. "Signing Santa"-a Santa who communicates in sign language-listened to children's wishes at Hicks Nurseries in Westbury as part of a special effort to include children and their family members who speak in sign language in holiday festivities.

TOMMY WELLBROCK at Mineola with Signing Santa at Hicks Nurseries in Westbury.

This unique event was supported by the Fiorentino Foundation in Wantagh, a not-for-profit group founded by Dianne Fiorentino to bridge the gap and to raise awareness between deaf and hearing people through special events such as Signing Santa. Fiorentino says there are many uncomfortable and emotionally painful experiences that families with deaf children or deaf parents encounter through lack of awareness in the hearing community about deafness. Knowing that negative encounters with Santa are common for deaf children and wanting deaf children and their families to have a positive time during the holidays, the Fiorentino Foundation, as its initial project, last year came to Hicks Nurseries with the proposal to offer Signing Santa to the public.

Fred Hicks, president of the nursery says that Hicks appreciates the opportunity to offer this service each year. "We are a family-based business," said Hicks, "and we are proud to provide the chance for deaf children to be part of the season." Hicks agrees with the Fiorentino Foundation's philosophy that deafness should not deprive anyone of life's experiences.

Hicks Nurseries, Long Island's oldest garden nursery (established by the Hicks Family in 1853) is located at 100 Jericho Turnpike in Westbury; telephone, 334-0066. The nursery is handicap accessible throughout. The Fiorentino Foundation can be reached at 579-0310 (voice) and 579-6463 (TTY).