Oklahoma School For The Deaf Provides Meals, Support To Sulphur Community

School is where students expect to feel safe and ready to learn. One Sulphur school is coming together to ensure families are cared for after Saturday night’s tornado.

Sulphur is where storm damage is extensive, but the community support is unlimited. 

People don’t have to travel far into this town to see what is lost. Educators in this community want families to know they are not alone in their struggle. The town of Sulphur reveals signs of unity. “I can see the value -- how much everyone cherishes one another,” said Heather Laine, superintendent at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf. 

Since 1907 the Oklahoma School for the Deaf has accompanied Oklahoma Ave in Sulphur. “It has a beautiful history,” Laine said. “We see everyone as equal, deaf and hearing. communication is important.” 

Laine leads OSD where everyone has a voice. Sean Thomas Sledd grew up in Sulphur and attended OSD and now he teaches high school science at OSD. “This is like my other home,” Sledd said. “This is a family environment. I love this place and all that it does.” 

On Saturday night Laine said she felt the storm. “You never think that it’s gonna hit Sulphur,” Sledd said. 

Laine and Sledd rode the tornado out on campus. They received text alerts through the local emergency management system to warn them the storm was coming. “Luckily everyone is safe,” Laine said. 

The sun the next morning signalled what was lost. Sledd's duplex became a memory. “I was building my life and then it’s just like out of nowhere I'm having to start all over. Trying to figure out what’s next,” Sledd said. I’m heartbroken, to be honest.” 

Sledd found peace by helping his school provide meals to other families who shared his pain. Laine said communication for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community is important for healing. “We need to provide communication access to them so that way they know what they need,” Laine said. 

Sledd said people show him what is inside their hearts. “People are just coming from all over willing to help,” Sledd said. 

A community driven to come together and rebuild, Sledd said, is perhaps the brightest sign of what the future holds. “Everyone’s so good to one another,” Sledd said. “It’s just like one big family.” 

OSD is still working on plans to wrap up the school year. Students will stay home for now as a precaution for safety. Breakfast and lunch are being served on campus this week at 8 a.m. and noon. Donations are accepted at the Red Cross – Bancfirst – and the Oklahoma School for the Deaf Facebook page.