| For the holidays many families go to worship. Here are | | | | too. |
| some tips for including your deaf child and making it | | | | 5. If your family will be participating in worship services |
| fun! | | | | include your deaf child along with your other children. |
| 1. Work with your place of worship to have an | | | | For example, at one Christmas service our family had |
| American Sign Language interpreter for worship | | | | to read a couple of passages of scripture. Larry |
| services and activities. Usually you have to search for | | | | signed a passage and the interpreter interpreted. Larry |
| an interpreter who knows the vocabulary and has | | | | has a Bible for the Deaf and he signed the passage |
| experience with your worship services. These | | | | from his Bible. Again, explain to the interpreter the |
| interpreters are out there, you just have to start your | | | | format of the particular worship service and get the |
| search early! Your place of worship should pay for the | | | | interpreter scripture passages etc early. |
| interpreter. At our church, after a while we started | | | | From the time we moved to Massachusetts, when |
| making the arrangements with the interpreter directly | | | | Larry was 10 years old, right through to Larry's high |
| via email and phone, and the church paid the | | | | school and university years we attended the |
| interpreter, this was more efficient and avoided | | | | Presbyterian Church in Sudbury, MA. We were |
| miscommunication. | | | | blessed to have Pastor George Saylor who did a |
| 2. Here is a big tip: work with someone involved with | | | | great job of including Larry in church activities and |
| the worship services to get copies of the agenda, | | | | services. Pastor Saylor and elder Doris Soule did all |
| scriptures, hymns, and sheet music or at least the | | | | that was necessary to ensure that an American Sign |
| words to the songs that will be performed at the | | | | Language interpreter was available and paid, for all |
| service for the interpreter before the worship services. | | | | church activities that Larry attended. Doris Soule gave |
| Sometimes it is difficult for the interpreter to hear | | | | Larry his Bible for the Deaf. We were very lucky to |
| understand the words of songs someone or the choir | | | | find Marion Butland to interpret at church activities and |
| is signing. | | | | services. |
| 3. For really well attended services, arrive early so | | | | When Larry and Amrit were expecting Raveena and |
| your family can sit in the front row in order to see the | | | | starting a family we moved from the Presbyterian |
| interpreter without obstruction. The location for the | | | | Church in Sudbury to Grace Chapel in Lexington, MA. |
| interpreter and the entire deaf person's family should | | | | Grace Chapel has a Deaf Ministry with many Deaf |
| be reserved by the church. | | | | members and American Sign Language interpreters |
| 4. Include your deaf child in any holiday related activity, | | | | for church activities and worship services. |
| for example making advent wreaths etc. With good | | | | Please let us hear your holiday worship tips! |
| planning, the interpreter should attend these activities | | | | |