SIGNS OF FUN STORYTELLERS ENTHRALL HEARING, DEAF CHILDREN.

Byline: Orith Goldberg Staff Writer

NORTHRIDGE - A sign-language reading program by volunteers from the National Center on Deafness at California State University, Northridge, drew about 25 people to its debut at the Borders bookstore in Northridge on Thursday night.

Borders, CSUN's partner in the program, is hosting the free, twice- monthly program, which includes a reader and an interpreter from the Deafness Center. Those volunteers will devote an hour to reading and signing short stories twice a month.

About eight children watched with widened eyes at the session as Nina Treiman interpreted stories read by Heather Benjamin.

Alexandra Chavez, 8, of Tarzana said she enjoyed the stories because they helped her learn sign language so she could better communicate with her 6-year-old brother, Bobby, who is deaf.

``It's good because there is not much about sign language for kids,'' she said.

Wendy Marcus Minovitz, 45, brought her 9-year-old daughter Marissa to increase her knowledge about people's differences.

``I want my daughter to be aware and tolerant of everybody, and maybe this will foster in her a desire to work with kids.''

Parent Michele Hausman of West Hills said she found the program enriching not only for her 6-year-old son, James, but also for herself. Hausman said she is on the same level in sign language as James, who was born deaf.

``As I hear the story and watch the interpreter, I get new ways to sign things,'' she said. ``It's been wonderful. I think it can maybe spark an interest in hearing children to learn sign language, and that would be wonderful.''

The program's official kick-off was prompted by a successful test run over the past few months.

As attendance steadily increased, representatives from Borders and the Deafness Center said they knew they had created a powerful and innovative partnership.

The idea came to Peter C. Bisuito, the bookstore's community relations coordinator, after another employee mentioned there was a sizable deaf community in Northridge and asked if the store could provide a program for the community.

No one showed up to the first readings at 10:30 a.m. Undeterred, Bisuito switched the reading time to 7 p.m., and the audience has built since.

``The parents are so appreciative, it's unbelievable,'' Bisuito said.

Colleen Gaither, who is hard of hearing, said she has brought her twin 4-year-old sons, Justin and Jaren, several times to learn sign language and interact with children who have disabilities.

``I think it's a wonderful idea to have it,'' she said. ``It will help create vocabulary, visualization and creativity.''

Daniel Girard, president of Deaf CSUNians at the university, said the group will provide volunteers for the program, adding that the program is a good opportunity to emphasize the importance of literacy.

``Children need to start now. They need to take it in,'' he said.

The Center provides interpreters, counselors, outreach and other services for approximately 240 deaf and hard-of-hearing students who attend CSUN.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo: (1) Ayssa Frazier and James Hausman, both 6, enjoy the story while they learn some sign language Thursday in a new program for both deaf and hearing children at Borders bookstore in Northridge.

(2) Heather Benjamin, left, and Nina Treiman, volunteers from the National Center on Deafness team up to read to children orally and in sign language.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer