Every month Signs Of Silence will feature a deaf or hh person for the month. People like to talk about themselves so here's your chance to get to know the people we serve in our community. We believe opportunities happen the more we get to know you as an individual. We also believe that deaf or hh people do not have a disability but rather strengths and abilities that make you who you are. The "Spotlight" may be on you next month so thanks again for stopping by and making this world a better place.

Entire Deaf Community:

Spotlight wants to take our first month in 2012 to highlight our entire deaf community. Signs Of Silence will be 16 years old in June, 2012 and there is a reason why we remain strong and committed and moving forward this year and that reason is YOU. From the very beginning SOS has always believed when we changed the life of our very first deaf person we accomplished our goal. Everything since then has been a bonus.

16 Years ago we met Jorge Herrera, a shy 15 yr old deaf guy from Oceanside. I met a friend of mine I grew up with I hadn't seen for awhile and she told me she worked at Vons on corner of 76 and College Blvd. When I told her I was starting an agency for the deaf she told me there was a deaf young man who worked at her store, his name was Jorge. So I drove that same day to meet Jorge.

When I entered the store I found Jorge and introduced myself and handed him a paper with my name and phone number and asked him if he would like to attend a weekend deaf event at Round Table Pizza in Vista. He said yes...then I got his address and went to his house to meet his parents and made sure they knew who we were and our contact and that's when I met his sister Lupe, also deaf and a real spark plug, and tons of energy. She is still the same today, smile.

What a great beginning and Jorge and Lupe are still connected with SOS. Both have grown up (finally lol) and are married with children and living the American dream. If meeting deaf people like Jorge and Lupe was what I was going to experience the next 16 years then I was all for it, and I definitely have not been disappointed. Our history includes the coolest deaf like Mikey Boy, and Jeannie and Jason T. and Katie M and JC and Nancy W. and Debbie and Patricia and Efren and Noel and Tammy and her husband Jorge and Kevin O. and Fabio and Davi and Pho and the Campbell sisters and JR and Clifton and on and on and on, I could name so many. And so many experiences that have enriched all of our lives....and shaped us into who we are today.

I am so grateful for the greatest honor and privilege ever given to one person, the opportunity to serve the greatest community on earth, our deaf. As we look forward to 2012 let's never forget our beginning and our purpose, to connect our deaf with opportunities to improve the quality of their lives. It's gonna be a great year!!! Thanks...

Noel Placencia:

This month we feature one of our most faithful and loyal deaf, Noel Placencia. Certainly someone you want to meet, a very likable and attractive personality and fun to be around.

Noel (known as NP) was born in Orange County April 22, 1983. He was born hearing and then got meningitis and became fully deaf at the age of 2. Noel has one brother and one sister, both older then him. Noel's favorite color is blue, his favorite number is 83 (after a SD Charger player) and his favorite ice cream is Oreo.

Noel told us his favorite state is California and his favorite place to visit is Mammoth. If he went on vacation to anyplace in the world, that's where he would go. When asked to pick a country he would like to visit outside the US he said Mexico because his deaf friend Fabio is from there. Not sure why we asked this next question but we asked Noel his favorite shape, he said a triangle, interesting. His favorite sport is Football and his favorite team is the Chargers. We are adding a side note about his pick...Noel liked the Raiders before, boooooo, then the Cowboys, and now he likes the Chargers. Come on Noel, make up your mind !!!

Lastly we asked Noel his favorite car and he said a Mustang, ok not a bad choice. Overall Noel is very pleasant to be around and is very much the life of any party. he lights up the room when he is there. And he loves food, haha. One thing I forgot, Noel works at Vons in Escondido and has worked there for 4 years, almost 5 years. Good job Noel. keep up the good work. If anyone wants to meet him you can find him at most deaf events in North County with a smile on his face and happy to meet you too. Thanks Noel for being such a good sport and answering all our questions, you are a very cool guy.