Sunday, December 2, 2012

Signing Santa Stops at City Creek

On Friday, November 30, 2012 The Salt Lake Tribune included a blurb entitled "Signs for the Season" in their Utah Section (B8). Since its length likely excluded it from being posted on the Trib's website, I've included the text here: "Ken McLean, a signing Santa, signs to 4-year old Quinsi Wakeland as she sits on his lap Thursday at the City Creek Center with 90 of her classmates from the Jean Massieu School of the Deaf in Salt Lake City. McLean, of Denver, has been a signing Santa for five years. The students met with Santa and participated in other holiday activities at the shopping center in downtown Salt Lake City." A jolly photograph of a red-clad Saint Nick (McLean) with a wee girl (Wakeland) seated on his lap and intently watching his face and fingers accompanied the text. I was delighted to see there are opportunities for children who are deaf to communicate their Chrismtas wishlist to the man at the North Pole. It seems Santa can suit every child's needs. (The photograph was taken by Steve Griffin. The text wasn't attributed to an author.)