On Wednesday, December 14, students and teachers in Abilene ISD’s Regional Day School Program celebrated Deaf Awareness Day at The Abilene Zoo. To prepare for the celebration, AISD students created posters for special zoo animals. The posters included a picture of the animal, a picture of the sign for the animal, and a QR code that opened up to a video of one of our deaf students or deaf teachers producing the sign. Parents, siblings, and past students also joined in the celebration event, which was sponsored by the Holland Hearing Center and HEB. 

Clay Carabajal, Public Relations and Animal Behavior Specialist for the Abilene Zoo, and two assistants wowed students with an up-close and personal presentation of a roadrunner, baby alligator, newly trained hawk, and a baby capybara. Students also had the opportunity to pet unique Texas animals and participate in “zoo chats” at the giraffe and anteater exhibits with interpreters present, where they learned all they ever wanted to know about these amazing creatures. Other activities included making s’mores, touring the zoo by train, and receiving special visits from the Grinch and Santa Claus, who communicated with the students in sign language as he listened patiently to their wishes for Christmas.

Thank you to our friends at the Abilene Zoo for partnering with AISD to help these students enjoy a fantastic holiday learning experience!