Melissa Wooden Family and Friends

Born on a cold morning December 17, 1978, in Boulder, CO, weighing in at four pounds ten ounces she barely cried entering into this world. So tiny but filled with love from the moment she arrived.

Her first two years were filled with movement and uncertainty, but in April of 1980 Melissa and her mother moved to Little Falls, MN to start a new life close to her Great Grandparents.

Melissa’s deafness was discovered after she was tested at Head Start when she was three and then it was confirmed when she turned four years old. She was totally deaf in her right ear and had 78% loss in the left ear. Doctors told her mother she would be completely deaf by the age of 18. She attended private school until January of 1987 when she transferred to Dr. SG Knight because there was another deaf child there. She struggled with her deafness but soon learned to adapt to a mostly hearing world. She learned her profound patience with others from encounters at school and camps.

She broke both her arms in the spring of 1989; a difficult 6 weeks of only finger spelling with two 90 degree casts didn’t stop her determination to learn sign language.

Melissa attended her first Camp Courage North near Itasca State Park, Bemidji, MN, with money donated by other caring parents of Deaf children. She loved camp and camp life, learning to canoe, water ski, life skills and other children’s deaf culture. Vowing to someday be a counselor at camp, she worked very hard in school and activities around deaf issues. She discovered Signed Song and won many competitions at the International Creative Arts Festival for the Deaf in Chicago, IL with Signed Songs and her Visual Art projects.

On one trip to California with her grandmother, Melissa was introduced to a woman that was having difficulty with her deaf daughter. The woman’s child was cutting her own hands with scissors so she would not have to learn to sign. After a couple hours of Melissa sitting with the child and tenderly explaining the joys of being deaf and being able to communicate in two cultures, the child was inspired to learn as much sign as possible and in turn her anger towards her mother changed to love and acceptance. Melissa’s gift of patience, teaching and helping others was becoming the forefront in her personality even at the age of twelve.

She started fall semester 1990 at Washington Middle School in Brainerd, MN after discovering a wonderful program for Deaf students. Immersing herself in Deaf Culture and issues she took as many English classes as possible. Wanting to be able to communicate in both the “Hearing World” and the “Deaf World” she found unification with Deaf activities like Junior National Association for the Deaf (JNAD) and Deaf Club of Brainerd. Speaking with her mother at Brainerd Community College (now Central Lakes College) in Brainerd, on Deaf Culture and her journey in the Deaf World, she found new opportunities to help others understand her deafness. They spoke for the next twelve years at college classes, community events and non-profit organization like Sertoma, Lions Club, TCC and scout groups.

During legal action against the Little Falls School District for not compiling with the ADA (American Disabilities Act) for educating deaf children, Melissa decided to attend MSAD (Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf) in Fairbault, MN. The choice to attend an all deaf inclusive school 150 miles from home was a difficult time for her family. When Melissa announced her decision her mother responded with, “One year”.

Her first year was exciting and filled with new adventures she never dreamed she would be part of. Melissa was head cheerleader for football and basketball games, voicing cheers for the hearing parents as well as signing for the deaf. She played on the volleyball team and was involved with drama, JNAD, and “Close-up” an organization for introducing the Clause IDEA to the ADA regarding education for the deaf. Her grades went from C’s and D’s in the mainstream school to A’s and B’s in the deaf school. She loved MSAD.

Unfortunately, second year at MSAD found her involved in so many activities that she became very ill and spent one month at home recovering from Mononucleosis, sinus infection, ear infection, bronchitis and strep-throat. Her deafness was enhanced and she lost most of her remaining hearing.

As she continued her studies in Deaf Culture and Art and dreamed of going to Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. At graduation from MSAD, she used her favorite talent, Signed Song and gave an outstanding performance of “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion for all the parents of her fellow graduates.

Melissa moved to Washington, D.C. where she attended Gallaudet University, graduating in 2002 with a B.A. degree in studio art, and two minors, in art history and graphic design. During the summers she spent her time as a counselor for both Sertoma and Camp Courage Nourth, in addition to small day camps at Brainerd.

After graduation, Melissa moved back to Little Falls, MN and was a freelance Graphic Artist, taught ASL (American Sign Language) at Community Education, substitute teacher for Central Lakes College and enjoyed her family and friends.

In August of 2005, she was hired to teach ASL at the Brainerd High School. In the meantime, she attended St. Cloud State University to receive her degree in Art Education. She was an extremely talented, respected and dedicated teacher whose influence on her students will last their lifetime. Her students enjoyed her stories of Deaf Culture and family events.

One of Melissa’s dreams was to someday have enough money to donate back to the young deaf children that may not have the opportunity to enjoy camp, art and the beauty of the Deaf World. Purple was her favorite color and she loved butterflies (because they are deaf). Her smile, beautiful hands, patience and love of teaching will never be forgotten.