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Hearing impaired students from the Central Valley tell Santa their Christmas dreams

144 views · Published 13 December 2018 · 1:42 · Indexed 22 October 2026

Channel: CBS47 KSEE24 · 2018 · News & Politics

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Santa and his helpers made their way into town, making it a very special Christmas for some very special kids.

Hearing impaired students from Fresno, Clovis, Madera and Visalia unified school districts using sign language to make sure Santa knows what they want for Christmas.

Mayra Tapia attended the event for the first time with her son Zeferino Rojas. 

"I think it's very important to involve deaf kids," she says. "It's a beautiful language. They are wonderful kids (and) I just have a feeling they get a little isolated and don't do a lot of events for them."

First came the parade.

The kids and their families waved and said their hello's to Santa and his crew.

Natalie and Evangeline, mother and daughter, have attended the parade for years and say it still makes them emotional.

"It's kind of sweet because I remember going when she was in kindergarten and now she is in sixth grade and it's just a really special time," her mom says.

And after the parade, kids got the chance to sit in Santa's lap and tell him their Christmas dreams in a very special way.

Jennifer Silva, a deaf and hard of hearing teacher in Fresno Unified, was able to communicate with Santa in sign language.

She says they don't always have that opportunity in their local areas, and so this is a great chance for them."

Organizers say this is a Christmas tradition that will be part of the valley for years to come.

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