More than 50 Palm Beach County elementary school students got to meet a sign language-friendly Santa Claus at the Mall at Wellington Green on Thursday. The experience was a special one catered just for a select group of students at Indian Pines Elementary and Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School. A Moment of Joy: News We Love“Often deaf and hard of hearing kids are isolated because they don’t have people who communicate in their language who they can understand, and so this just makes them feel a part of everything because they’re included in simple things like just meeting Santa and talking to Santa for the first time,” said Lisa Cunningham, a deaf and hard of hearing resource teacher at the School District of Palm Beach County. The mall remained closed throughout it all, while the kids also got to enjoy a make-believe snow palace.Stay informed: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News“We want Santa to be inclusive for children, but we’re very excited to bring this to them,” said Rachelle Crain, a spokeswoman for the Mall at Wellington Green. In an intimate performance, American Sign Language students from John I. Leonard High School were also there singing Christmas carols. “It’s infectious. They’re just so excited, and their smiles are heartwarming to see them just so happy to see them communicate with Santa and be a part of the everyday life that our typical hearing kids are,” added Cunningham. Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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