by Bernie English
Children from the Mid-West School for the Deaf in Limerick had a Christmas dream came true at the RDS this week when they were greeted through sign language by Santa at the Christmas Toy Show.
They were joined by ten-year-old Quaid Clelland, a prominent deaf awareness campaigner who made headlines in August after it was revealed that he was lobbying RTÉ to use sign language during The Late Late Toy Show.
More than 50 children from the Mid-West School and St Joseph’s and St Mary’s schools for the deaf in Cabra, and children from the Our New Ears support group met with Santa Claus at the Christmas Toy Show.
The children met with Mr and Mrs Claus in their Christmas grotto and Elf interpreters were also on hand to assist the children at every stage of their journey through the Santa experience.
Quaid, who is a hearing child, was first introduced to Irish Sign Language (ISL) by his mother who was studying communication with the deaf and at the age of six, he started the campaign Get Ireland Signing.
“Everyone in the country should learn to sign so we can all communicate,” said Quaid as signed Happy Christmas with Santa.
