Dayton, Maine (CNN/WTAJ) — A kindergartner in Maine is blazing a trail at her school by teaching her classmates about hearing impaired people.
The entire school learned sign language to communicate with her, and the school got a special visit from a Disney princess to celebrate.
Talia Clark has the story.
Morey Belanger is the first deaf student to attend Dayton Consolidated School, and as soon as the staff learned she would be coming, they made it a goal to teach everyone the best way to communicate with her.
Teachers posted signs around the school to help students learn sign language.
“They have been phenomenal. Makes me a little mushy,” said Debby Gallant, a teacher. “They probably know at least 15 signs, if not 20.”
On Friday, teachers and students welcomed Cinderella for a special princess party. She sang to students in sign language with a little help from Morey.
“This is a special day for her, not only to celebrate her and all of her growth and achievement, but the school as well in how much sign language the students and the staff have learned,” said teacher Shannon Cavanaugh.
Morey’s mother, Shannon Belanger, says her daughter is receiving a lot of support, and says, “It just makes you feel like she’s in the right place.”