For her entire life, Rosanne Hirsch has been a “kid person.” Today, as a retired teacher of the deaf, she’s still doing what she loves—connecting with children and helping them learn as a volunteer at the Oak Park Conservatory.
While volunteering with the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory’s early childhood programs, including Story Time, Toddle Exploration Time and Discovery Garden Exploration Time, Rosanne found a special way to put her professional skills to use. She began incorporating Signed English, a communication system that uses signs to represent spoken English, to help children build language skills and support families with deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
This summer, Rosanne met families who were delighted to discover someone who could communicate with their children through sign language. One baby attending Discovery Garden Exploration Time had received bilateral cochlear implants at eight months old. Now 12 months, he is adjusting to a new world of sounds, sign language is helping him communicate with others.
As Rosanne explains, “Deaf people are very happy to find people who can sign with them.”
Finding a New Purpose Through Volunteering
Rosanne’s own path to volunteering began after years spent caring for her husband and grandchildren. Following her husband’s death, she was ready to find a new way to spend her time and reconnect with the work she loved.
“I needed to find some way to make good use of my free time and try to keep up the skills I loved using when I was younger,” she says. “I needed to find a way to not just sit at home.”
At the Conservatory, she found more than a volunteer opportunity. She found a welcoming community where her experience and talents are valued.
“It’s important to me to give back to the community in a way that makes me feel useful. I feel valued and welcome here. It’s a win-win.”
Small Moments, Lasting Impact
For the children who attend the Conservatory’s early childhood programs, Rosanne’s contributions help make learning playful, engaging and inclusive. During a recent Story Time about apple trees, she introduced toddlers to sign language signs for apples, trees and birds. These simple moments help children discover new ways to communicate and build a foundation for language.
“Early intervention works,” Rosanne says. “With each connection, you are inputting and building the storehouse of language.”
Rosanne’s story is a reminder that volunteering benefits everyone. Volunteers share their time, talents and experience, while children and families gain opportunities to learn, connect and feel welcome.
There are many ways to get involved with the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory, and every volunteer brings something unique to our community.
This is where community blooms.
Our volunteers help make meaningful experiences like these possible. With the support of donors, The Friends can continue offering free early childhood programs that welcome families and nurture a love of learning and nature.
Interested in sharing your time and talents? Learn more at fopcon.org/volunteer.
Want to help keep these programs growing? Make a gift at fopcon.org/donate.
