Military Dad Surprises Deaf Daughter at School

WATCH: Deaf News - The U.S. military David Opperman surprises her daughter at school for the Deaf goes viral on social media.

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- One family had a good cry on Wednesday when a soldier surprised his teenage daughter after six months of being deployed.

Tech Sgt. David Opperman caught 13-year-old Amber off-guard when showed up at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in the midst of their Skype session.

"She's basically saying [in the video], 'I can't believe you're here. I missed you so much,'" mom Yvet Opperman said, translating her daughter's sign language. "Me, I was teary eyed. I almost couldn't control myself. It was an emotional day, overall."

Yvet of Glenolden, Pennsylvania, told ABC News today that her husband David had been overseas since October.

The separation had been tough for her and their three children, she said.

"Especially for Amber being Deaf -- that's her first actual separation that she's known of since she's been born," Yvet explained.

Since David was returning home, he and Yvet planned to surprise their youngest daughter as she was Skyping with her father at school.

"Amber thought she was going to be surprising dad by bringing me into the video," Yvet said. "In actuality, he was in the next room over -- waiting to come in. We turned the tables."

Yvet filmed David putting Amber on hold during their Skype chat. Moments later, Amber was in tears as she saw her dad walk into her classroom.

The pair exchanged multiple hugs and signed at each other.

"They just continued talking and we took her home early," Yvet said. "[David] was just happy to be home and back with the family."

SOURCE - ABC News

Orangutan Asks Deaf Girl For Help On Skype

Orangutan uses sign language to ask for help from Deaf girl.

The video goes viral by the Rainforest Action Network (RAN), and is intended to raise awareness of how the palm oil industry is destroying orangutans' natural habitats and driving the species to extinction.

The video shows a 12-year-old Deaf girl named Lena chitchatting with an orangutan named Strawberry via Skype. One thing leads to another, and Strawberry learns that Lena likes to eat peanut butter.

“Your food is destroying my home,” the orangutan tells the girl at this point.

Apparently, most of the palm oil used to make snacks and treats marketed in the US comes from plantations that used to be rainforests, but that have been converted into agricultural lands in order to support this industry.

“While some companies are beginning to take steps to address their oil palms problem, none have yet adopted and fully implemented adequate safeguards to eliminate conflict palm oil from entering their supply chains and contaminating their products,” RAN explains on the official website... Read The Full Story.

Technology Helps Deaf Students At Gallaudet

Technology helps special education students' at Gallaudet University.

WASHINGTON -- Gallaudet University in Washington is the world's only university with programs designed for Deaf students and those who are hard-of-hearing. But hearing disorders do not keep students from learning because of the university's heavy use of technology.

Students use interactive technologies in and out of the classroom, technologies such as webcam interactions on Skype. More than 90 percent of Gallaudet's classes use some form of online communication. Professor Gene Mirus says technology is important in the learning process. "So there are, you know, televisions and webcams and things like that. Students are able to record themselves doing projects in sign language, and do that at home. We use a lot of computer technologies, and webcams and things like that."

Sonam Jain, a student from Sri Lanka, says his years at Gallaudet have offered experiences different from his childhood. "Sri Lanka has states. And they don't have one standardized sign language. So, in the United States, for example, there are signs for almost everything that you would ever want to talk about.

In Sri Lanka, there isn't. And so there are many things you find it very difficult to talk about in Sri Lanka." Another student says Gallaudet has helped him with his communication skills, especially with ASL - American Sign Language.

"When I grew up, I was signing in a way that was more English-like. Here at Gallaudet, I sign more like I sign in ASL - more visual and the communication is much easier, and the social life is wonderful here." That increased ability to communicate helps many students. "A lot of networking and reaching out to people and I've learned from - I've had role models that I've learned from here.

They provide workshops, there are a lot of sporting activities, intramural events that I've been involved with." "Most students increase their self-confidence, and improve their communication abilities and they leave Gallaudet ready to face the world." I'm Jeri Watson.

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Related: Medical Research: Dual Adaptation in Deaf Brains

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