‘Hands Alive’ deaf/hard of hearing event is March 9 | Community Spirit

The seventh annual “Hands Alive” fair is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 9, at Yellow Creek Baptist Church’s community building. Teachers of the deaf from across the region organized this event, with support from the River Region and Caveland Co-Operatives, Brescia University, and local businesses and individuals.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing students in grades preschool through 12 will attend this event. The students are from across western Kentucky, including Daviess County, Owensboro, Warren County, McLean County and Webster County.

In addition to students, the event will also be attended by school staff members who work with deaf and hard-of-hearing students; family members; and deaf community members.

The fair will include game booths, arts and crafts, team building activities and carnival games.  This year’s storytelling will be performed by Dr. Samuel Supalla, an internationally renowned deaf presenter who is currently a professor at the University of Arizona.  He is an author, researcher and presenter on issues related to literacy development of deaf and hard of hearing students.  Hands Alive is privileged to have him in attendance this year.

“Students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing are often isolated either at school or at home, never meeting another child like themselves,” said Heidi Givens, teacher of the deaf and hard-of-hearing at Country Heights Elementary School. “This event is our way of getting all these students together, to form bonds and to learn from each other.”

Givens said most of the volunteers working at this event will be deaf and hard-of-hearing adults, which will provide additional inspiration to the students attending. “Besides meeting other students like themselves, they will also meet adults from various careers,” she said. “These children will be able to see what their potential could be.”

The Hands Alive weekend will continue with an evening of American Sign Language storytelling by Dr. Supalla along with an Open Mic session from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 9, at Apollo High School. This event is open to the public.  On Saturday, March 10, Dr. Supalla will be presenting a workshop for professionals who work with the deaf and hard-of-hearing population.