Design Spotlight: Mary Kay Mickiewicz

Today’s Design Spotlight is on Mary Kay at Sign Language Greetings – a very unusual and cool concept, and an inspiring story!

_________________________

I am a Teacher for the Deaf / Artist / Photographer, and can honestly say that beside being a Mom, Teaching children and especially Deaf children, was the most exciting, fulfilling and FUN time of my life!

I learned so much from the Deaf Community who taught me Sign Language, and from the amazing and beautiful Deaf children who I was so lucky to Teach and to learn from… The Deaf Community is a beautiful place to be.  I love their language, and would love to see the rest of the world understand the incredible benefits Sign Language brings to the amazing little minds of children! This is what inspired me to create “Sign Language Greetings!”

I love my cards, because I love kids! I never tire of looking at their precious faces over and over, year after year. They remain beautiful forever, and my hope is that I can use their cuteness to deliver a definite, positive, learning experience that can help young and old alike.

I have seen children who are not Deaf, but due to a physical problem, are unable to talk. Their parents would not offer these children Sign Language, maybe thinking this would be embarrassing… maybe thinking they were admitting to their child being disabled and thus feeling as though they were giving up by admitting they should learn Sign Language. It’s ironic how the term used to be “Deaf and dumb”  and now, after so much research, we find that Sign Language actually makes people SMARTER!!

Sign Language speeds up the process of Language learning!  It strengthens the learning process by creating more pathways in different areas of the brain! Sign Language actually gives the child the ability to USE the language as opposed to not.

I have watched my Deaf students thrive and succeed in a world I find to be tough, and I can hear!  LOL!  I have seen Deaf babies finger spell to their Deaf parents (amazing!) I have seen my awesome student and now friend, work in my husband’s deli, take orders from customers, and problem solve frustrating communication issues, all the while, creating a bond & teaching our hearing customers that you can still communicate without speech.

“Lily” demonstrated a grace and positive  attitude that inspired people to learn.  She touched many lives and promoted the power of Sign Language with her courageous self esteem and beauty!  Lily and her brother, Victor (also successful & Deaf, and working for the government!) are my Sign Language Greetings, Language Consultants!  They are always there to help me when I need guidance with my Sign Language cards (and book I am working on now!)

I would love to help eliminate the frustration that develops due to a lack of communication. I am using this picture of “Grandpa’s hand and baby” as a symbol that the use of Sign Language not only strengthens your brain, but creates a union of language that everyone can use, young and old, those with language delays, incapable of speech due to medical issues, learning issues, brain damage, stroke victims… Many of us lose our hearing as we grow old.

What if we all knew some sign language, everywhere we went, we’d be able to communicate!

So,  as my greeting cards continue to sell, it is my hope that they will educate just a little bit, by stirring up a curiosity for this beautiful language, and igniting more and more people and school teachers to teach their children  Sign Language!