B.C. beach day brings deaf and hard-of-hearing kids together

More than 100 deaf and hard-of-hearing students made connections that could last a lifetime on Wednesday in Saanich.

The Greater Victoria School District hosted its annual Deaf and Hard of Hearing Beach Day, which brings students from up and down Vancouver Island to Cadboro-Gyro Park for a day of field games.

“I’m having so much fun,” said Avery, a Grade 1 student in Victoria. “I’m so happy.”

In many cases the students are the only kids with hearing loss in their schools.

“It’s not something that happens every day for them, to see individuals like themselves,” said Megan Jantz, a teacher for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

“I have students here who have been friends for the last year because of the connection they made last year.”

Sheila Ferguson works as a language acquisition support worker in several school districts. She describes herself as a deaf role model, exposing young learners to American Sign Language.

“This event is incredibly important for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community on Vancouver Island to gather, to connect, and to make new introductions to people they haven’t met before,” Ferguson said.

As many school districts stare down budget deficits, both Ferguson and Jantz hope school boards can bolster funding for technology and staff dedicated to students with hearing loss.

Ferguson said familiarizing people with hearing loss and visual languages is essential.

“I’m optimistic because there is that exposure happening,” she said.

“We want to make sure that we’re addressing those gaps of language deprivation. And I think that work is being done.”