& FUN GAMES were not all these kids had in common last week
THE NOISE LEVEL EBBED AND FLOWED AT THE INDOOR HOCKEY RINK IN THE REDWOOD FALLS COMMUNITY CENTER LAST THURSDAY.
But hockey was the last thing on the minds of the more than 80 K-12 students from southwest Minnesota, including four from Tracy, who attended the annual Building Identity event for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
Coming from a number of different schools, the kids were mostly strangers to each other, but they all had one thing in common: their disability.
Some came with hearing aids tucked inside their ears. Others had cochlear implants. But neither stopped them from having a blast with their new friends.
And more important than just making new friends and playing games is the common ground they share that underscores the importance of the program.
“These kids a lot of times are one or one of two in their school district with hearing loss, so this is just a chance to be with other kids that have more similarities with them,” said volunteer Deb Wallert. “We set up the games so they have a way to start a conversation. We have kids who have been here a couple years, and with technology, we’ve done supervised videos between the kids during the school year so they can get to know each other. A lot of them have stayed in contact with each other.”
The bond the kids have with each other is strengthened because of their physical setbacks. A number of kids don’t have peers who are in the same situation they’re in.
“One of the comments I hear is, ‘Oh my gosh, they have hearing aids, too!’” said Rohman. “Or, they’ll go back to their school and maybe they haven’t been wearing their hearing aids well, and now all of a sudden, it’s OK to wear hearing aids.”
The Building Identity program has changed over the decades. The group at one time had overnight events and would visit places like Lake Shetek.
“Then we switched and did a winter camp, and a fire department would come in and teach the kids about flashing alarms and fire safety,” Wallert. “With times changing and funding, we ended up changing it to just one day.”
The group, which entertains kids from as far away as Luverne, Jackson, Willmar and Canby, eventually landed in Redwood Falls, as it is the most centralized location for the kids who come from about 20 different counties. An organization called Oral/Aural Deaf Education serves kids from Adrian, Edgerton, Fulda, MCC, Pipestone, RLB, RRC, RTR, Tracy and WWG school districts.
“We have 27 districts represented today,”said Jill Rohman, teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing.
“Some of the Lions Clubs have supported us and donated money to defray the cost of busing,” Wallert said. “This program is really important for self-esteem. It gives them a sense of community with other kids. We have parents who have brought little ones, saying, ‘I have this toddler, and I’ve never met another kid like mine!’ This lets them know that everything’s going to be OK.”
Rohman added that the three hours the kids spend together makes them forget for a moment that they have a hearing disability.
“I would say most of them don’t even think about their hearing loss,” she said. “They’re just excited to see other kids who have the same disability. It might be a cliché, but this helps them be comfortable in their own skin. And being with other kids like them, their confidence increases.”
The kids spent the two hours in Redwood Falls playing a number of different games — from kickball and Yahtzee, to Jenga and cup stacking.
“These are tools to get them to interact,” said Rohman. “And without even knowing, they’re learning more about themselves.”
Each child also received a “goodie” bag that included educational and informational literature that is focused on the hard of hearing.
“It has things they can take home to their parents about different things that are available throughout the state,” Wallert said. “It has stickers, hearing aid cases, even wax loops to dig out the (ear) wax from hearing aids, camp fliers … Maybe the parents don’t realize that certain services are available. It’s a lot of work to set this up, but it’s well worth it.”
