Without a sound
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on July 27, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Adamaris Lopez, 11, uses a type of sign language called Signed Exact English to read from a book called "It's Me, Hippo!" during the Blended Bridge day camp at Blended Fellowship Tuesday. The four week camp teaches both the deaf and hard of hearing and their siblings to communicate using sign language.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
From left, lead signer Kayla Seymour and co-director Marcia Mooring welcome Megin Duff and her family to the Blended Bridge day camp.
PIKEVILLE -- It was a duel.
Asen Loo crouched next to Max Ponton.
Both 10-year-old boys watched their teacher, Kayla Seymour, shuffle through the flashcards.
She pulled one, and they both started frantically rocking their arms back in forth, cradling an imaginary baby.
Kayla pursed her lips and paused -- then pointed to Asen, declaring him the winner.
He pumped his fists in the air while his classmates wiggled their fingers in the air, a visual support of applause.
There wasn't a sound during the game, but to Asen, there never is.
He is deaf -- and so are all of his classmates.
The flashcard duel helps them practice their vocabulary -- illustrating words like giraffe, butterfly and vegetable.
Blended Fellowship Church hosts Blended Bridges, a specialized sign-language camp for deaf children and their hearing siblings.
Its pastor's wife, Melanie Seymour, said they saw a large need in the community for deaf children.
"They are mainstreamed in schools. A lot of times, they are the only deaf child at their school," she said. "It is very isolating."
The idea for Blended Bridges was to provide an opportunity for siblings to learn sign language and deaf and hearing impaired children to communicate. It helps them retain and expand their vocabulary and academic skills.
The camp takes place Monday through Thursday throughout the month of July from 8:30 a.m. until noon.
Bible study is introduced among the lessons, but there is a larger focus on closing the communication gap. The camp is for ages five through 16. They have 37 children registered, with 20 adult volunteers.
This year, the camp's fourth, is an "Under the Sea" theme.
Camp co-director Marcia Mooring welcomes the children in the morning. Through the church, which she has attended since 2012, she has picked up the language.
"I'm not good, but I'm good enough to get by," she said.
Deaf volunteers help her with the vocabulary she does not know yet.
The morning starts with a TV show, "Dr. Wonders," where characters sign and captions run along the bottom of the screen.
The doctor warns the children against gluttony and greed through silly antics.
Then Marcia gets everyone up and dancing to the music. Instead of singing, everyone signs along to the lyrics.
Then it's time for class.
In the hearing sibling class, the children enter a coral reef to sit on green cushions -- but before they are allowed in, they have to demonstrate the sign of a family member -- aunt, uncle or cousin.
Then they lock up their voices, entering the silent world of their siblings, as they learn how to speak with their hands.
"We make it fun, so they remember," Marcia said. "We're helping families to communicate."
Down the hall, Kayla leads her deaf students through an interactive story book.
Each student takes a turn reading the book -- signing it, while other students act it out.
Laughter echoes down the hall as Asen acts out a parrot.
"They learn they're not the only deaf student," Marcia said. "They can communicate. It makes a difference. It opens their eyes."
Marcia pauses in her rounds to join in a flashcard duel.
Adamaris Lopez Lorenzo and Marcia face off.
Kayla flashes the word: fruit.
Adamaris clinches the victory within seconds.
"I don't know these words," Marcia signs to Kayla.
"You will learn," Kayla replies.
After winning, Adamaris teaches Marcia the correct sign with a smile and a hug.
The campers all reunite during snack. Then, they gather in the auditorium for a Bible story.
This week, the volunteers are doing black light acting to glowingly illustrate, "The Fiery Furnace."
Fish characters represent Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Kayla signs their names to the children before the show, and then gives them new sign-language names to make it easier.
Director of Deaf Student Ministries Shaun Howell stands in the back to watch.
"For the deaf we have to make things very visual, that's how they communicate," he said.
On stage, the neon fish exaggerate motion as they bring the story to life. The audience sat in silence as they watched.
"We're a blended congregation," Shaun said. "There are not many places where the hearing and deaf can come together like this."