Trending Now - School Embraces Sign Language for Its Sole Deaf Student

WHO:

CBS News - Seven-year-old Ben O'Reilly is the only deaf student at Campton Elementary School in Campton, New Hampshire.

CBS News - Ben's aide is Cheryl Ulicny.

CBS News - Ben's adoptive mothers are Etta and Marlaina O'Reilly.

CBS News - Classmate Reid Spring is mentioned as one of the students who began learning sign language.

WHAT:

CBS News - Ben O'Reilly felt isolated at school before his classmates began learning sign language.

CBS News - The entire class decided to learn sign language to communicate with Ben.

CBS News - Today, nearly every student and staff member at Campton Elementary knows at least some sign language.

WHERE:

CBS News - The events took place at Campton Elementary School in Campton, New Hampshire.

WHEN:

CBS News - The article was published on April 3rd, 2026.

WHY:

CBS News - Ben felt alone and isolated because he was the only deaf student in his school district, and there was virtually no one he could communicate with initially.

HOW:

CBS News - Ben's classmates started learning sign language, which led to a broader initiative where other teachers also began taking sign language classes and using it in communication, even when Ben was not present.

(UPDATED April 4, 2026 01:22 UTC)

Seven-year-old Ben O'Reilly, the only deaf student at Campton Elementary School in New Hampshire, felt isolated until his classmates decided to learn sign language to communicate with him. As a result, nearly every student and staff member at the school now knows at least some sign language, fostering a more inclusive environment for Ben. This initiative began with his classmate Reid Spring and has expanded to include teachers who are also taking sign language classes, enhancing communication even when Ben is not around.