Deaf Student Influences Classmates To Learn New Language

From: Iowa Channel.com - Des Moines,IA,USA - Apr 30, 2004

Elementary Students Study Signing

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- A central Iowa student is teaching a lesson that's not usually in the curriculum.

John Isaacson (pictured, left), 9, is the only deaf student at Crestview Elementary in West Des Moines, and he has influenced nearly 20 other students to join the sign language club (pictured, below right).

The students spent time after school on Thursdays learning sign language in order to better communicate with Isaacson.

"I wanted to be able to talk to John and stuff," student Karlye Boeve said.

"You can learn new signs from him because if I don't know a sign, he can show me," student Nicole Samuelson said.

"I like it when my friends learn sign language," Isaacson said.

"Now I can tell him, 'Ask your friend the question,' and I don't have to interpret anything," interpreter Karen Lindstrom said.

"It makes him so happy when he sees all these kids that are signing with him," Lindstrom said.

Another school in West Des Moines, Jordan Creek Elementary, is starting its own sign club.

Copyright 2004 by TheIowaChannel.com. All rights reserved.