Hengevelde embraces sign Language to Connect with Young Resident
Hengevelde, Netherlands – 2024/10/26 - A heartwarming initiative is sweeping through the village of Hengevelde as residents learn Dutch Sign Language to better communicate with 4-year-old Gijs Bloemen, who was born deaf. The community-wide effort aims to foster inclusivity and ensure Gijs, and others who use sign language, feel fully integrated into village life.
Gijs, the son of Jeffrey Bloemen and anouk Doeschot, and brother to Lot and Jet, was born without auditory nerves, resulting in complete deafness. While a brainstem implant (ABI) allows him to perceive some sounds, understanding speech remains a challenge. His parents’ desire for a supportive environment where Gijs can freely express himself and connect with others has sparked a remarkable response from neighbors, friends, and local businesses. Many have already begun learning sign language, and this week’s focus is on mastering signs related to the weather.
The project, documented in a series of videos by Wegdamnieuws, began with a goal to broaden Gijs’s world and facilitate everyday interactions – a simple greeting at the Coop supermarket, a conversation during sports activities, or a casual chat on the street. this week’s installment features Gijs’s sister, Lot, and mother, Anouk, demonstrating essential weather-related signs.
Residents interested in following the series can find previous segments online:
* Part 1: https://wegdamnieuws.nl/algemeen/heel-hengevelde-gebaart-samen-maken-we-de-wereld-van-gijs-groter/
* Part 2: https://wegdamnieuws.nl/algemeen/heel-hengevelde-gebaart-het-gezin/
* Part 3: https://wegdamnieuws.nl/algemeen/video-heel-hengevelde-gebaart-vervoersmiddelen-3/
* Part 4: https://wegdamnieuws.nl/algemeen/video-heel-hengevelde-gebaart-de-boerderij-4/
Gijs currently attends the Enkschool in Zwolle, a specialized school for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. The initiative hopes to extend that sense of belonging beyond the classroom and into the heart of the Hengevelde community.
