By Cheryl Stahle

What will she toss into the mix next?   Sandra Leith, this month’s Happening Hero, has taken her life-long passion for juggling combined with her sign language expertise to teach deaf and hard of hearing children throughout the Bucks County area how to shout yes when so many other parts of their lives scream no.

Since picking up her first ball at age 9, Sandra has mastered juggling multiple balls, clubs and even toyed with fire spears.  She has been known to juggle apples at the grocery store when the urge strikes.

But juggling comprises only half of Sandra’s unique gifts which she shares with children.  During Take Your Daughter to Work day which she attended while in the fourth grade, Sandra discovered the world of finger spelling by watching her father’s occupational therapy clients use their fingers to communicate.  At the event, sponsors passed out a little pamphlet of basic signs, and during the car ride home, Sandra found her passion. “I studied on my own until I was actually old enough to take the adult night class, at the local college (for no credits), and then later I went to study in a sign language Interpreting program.”

Sandra is a certified American Sign Language interpreter and fully fluent.  As a signer, Sandra has interpreted at a Lady Gaga concert, American School for the Deaf, Deaf Fests as well as the Marie Katzenback School for the Deaf.   Sandra also facilitates a group of signers in the Doylestown area who want to practice their skills.

By opening the world of opportunity to deaf and hard of hearing children through a combination of sign language and juggling Sandra shares her talents. Because juggling is so visual, it is very easy for the pupils to pick up on. They can emulate what the jugglers expect from them, after just a few examples.  She has worked primarily in school programs for the past seven years.

An active member of The Circus Place and Band of Jugglers, Sandra has spent the past three years combining juggling and sign language during a special summer program open to children of all ages. Sandra believes that anything is possible with some determination and practice. “Deaf children are told ‘No, you can't…’ too many times! We are here to remind them that, ‘Yes, they can’, with practice. We even have some adaptive juggling props” for students with additional challenges.

Banned from Sandra’s programs is the word “can’t”.  If a child becomes frustrated and tries to give up learning a trick or a sign, Sandra encourages the child by having them sing the Yes I Can Cheer.  Her work not only combines the worlds of juggling and signing but also reinforces self-confidence with children.

An outing with Sandra and her juggling colleagues includes playing with a hula hoop before the juggling begins. The Band of Jugglers prides itself on creating a safe, caring environment that values the unique beauty of each child.   “We get them started juggling, if not with juggling balls, at least with scarves or feathers (the scarves are much easier to learn). We will let them be kids and have fun.”

To learn more about Sandra and the Band of Jugglers visit their web site at www.bandofjugglers.com.

We Are Supported By: