Friday, April 16, 1999
Deaf student on track
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
There was a time when Linda and Jeffrey Prince openly cried, wondering if their daughter, D.J., would ever walk or lead a normal life.
“D.J. came down with spinal meningitis when she 1-year-old,” Linda Prince said. “She was a vegetable and couldn't hold her head up. But God blessed us and everything came back during the next six months.”
Months of physical therapy followed and five years later Prince was back to normal.
That was 15 years ago.
Today, Prince is healthy and a 16-year-old junior at Finneytown High School where she is a member of the girls track team, running the 400 and 800 meters.
The only way to communicate with D.J. is through sign language. She is assigned interpreter Rena Stoddard at Finneytown for all classes and at track meets.
“D.J. is a willing worker and attends every practice,” track coach Fred Vance said. “The team is much tougher and aggressive because the other kids see her battling so hard.”
Because she can't hear the gun used to start races, Prince is usually a step or two behind her competitors at the start.
“The officials are made aware of D.J. and go through the commands much slower,” Vance said. “The interpreter stands alongside the starter and gives the commands to D.J. by sign language.
“D.J. told me (in sign language) that she feels the starter's gun,” Vance added. “It's very frustrating to her because she wants to win and feels at a disadvantage because of the starts.”
Prince, who attended St. Rita School for the Deaf until this year, also expressed an interest in basketball. She went to the first day of tryouts but didn't return.
“I saw D.J. during open gym and she could bang on the inside,” Finneytown Athletic Director and girls basketball coach Carol Miller said. “She was probably frustrated because she couldn't understand what was going on. We'd like to see her come back next season.”
Prince has dedicated the season to her uncle, Perry Prince, who's a paraplegic.
“My brother (Perry) was heavy into martial arts and won three or four national competitions,” Jeffrey Prince said. “He was injured and now in a wheel chair. He was one of D.J.'s favorites.”
Prince isn't the only deaf member of the track team. Tamika Johnson, a senior, was born deaf.
“It's a big thrill for D.J. and Tamika when we go to meets,” Vance said. “They never complain because they're just happy to be competing.”
The family hasn't given up hope D.J. may hear again.
“There's certain things that may be done in the future to bring it back,” Jeffrey Prince said.
Finneytown has seven deaf students, each assigned a personal interpreter. If they're attending a school function, the interpreter is with the impaired student.
“That's why we put D.J. at Finneytown because of the interpreter and education,” Jeffrey Prince said. “She does very well in her studies.”
Job conflicts have kept her parents from attending a meet, but they're well aware of what goes on.
“D.J. tells us when she gets home,” Linda Prince said. “She ran the 800 (meters) for the first time last week and finished fourth.”
Sports Stories
Casey at the stats
Limiteds sue, say Schott is wangling
REDS NOTEBOOK
SCOUTING REPORT
Bengals want more for No. 3 pick
DRAFT PREVIEW: QUARTERBACKS
DRAFT PREVIEW: CORNERBACKS
NFL Draft Order
LeClair makes Hall
