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Published on 07/24/1995 All articles from this issue

Activist speaks out for deaf children

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By Jennifer Bixler / Town Crier Staff Writer

Quota volunteer Janet Hecht fights to turn Arastra House from demolition site to respite home

For eight years, the City of Palo Alto had been trying to find a tenant for the Arastra House in the Arastradero Preserve. When the city gave up hope last year and scheduled the house for demolition, Janet Hecht stepped in and saved it.

"The Finance Committee of Palo Alto decided not to approve the funds for the demolishing of the house and the Planning Committee voted to open the proposal processes," Hecht said.

Hecht, a member of the Los Altos Quota Club, convinced the city to hold the wrecking ball. Now she's trying to convince officials the site is an ideal spot as a home for deaf children. She wants to start the first such respite home in Northern California.

"The main reason to start a respite home is to give the parents a break," she said. "There is a lot of stress raising a deaf child. Many times deaf children are also isolated from other deaf children. Four years ago I started to look for a house. But trying to find a house was really impossible."

The Quota Club and Sertoma Club of Los Altos have been very supportive of Hecht's plans for a respite home, Hecht said. During the recent Los Altos Arts and Wine Festival, community members gave $400 in $1 donations to the Children's Tree House, a non-profit organization run by Hecht for activities for deaf children.

Hecht's latest actions are par for the course for a woman who, despite a disability, has been tirelessly working to help others all her life.

Judith Burrill, first vice president of the Quota Club, said, "It's a privilege to know Janet. Her one goal is to have that house for the deaf children. She's an inspiration for us all. She adds perspective in the Quota Club, a really fantastic person."

Until Hecht finds a site for a respite home, she will continue her role as director of the Children's Tree House and hold monthly activities for deaf children at a low cost to the families.

Hecht, who is qualified to work with deaf/hard-of-hearing children, has a multiple subjects teaching credential from San Jose State University, a communication handicap teaching credential and a master's degree in education of the exceptional child from San Francisco State University and a master's degree and a doctoral in psychology of education: child and adolescent development from Stanford University.

These activities, such as going to Paramount's Great America, Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Discovery Museum, have given parents and siblings a break from the difficult lifestyle with a deaf child. The deaf children also get the opportunity to interact with each other, giving them comfort that they are not alone with their disability.

The Children's Tree House helps more than 700 deaf children, infant through high school, throughout California to participate in activities they would not likely be able to do because of financial difficulties. More than 70 percent of families with deaf children are low-income, because of the overwhelming financial responsibilities, Hecht said.

"No one else in California is doing what I'm doing," Hecht said. "The program makes me feel that I'm helping kids change their lives."

The Arastra House is a 6,000-square-foot home sitting on 500 acres of land preserve near the Los Altos Hills border. The City of Palo Alto acquired the house in the 1970s following a lawsuit, said Janet Freeland, senior financial analyst of the City of Palo Alto.

For five years it was a residential rental and then it was to be used for a public organization because it sits on park land, Freeland said.

But finding the right tenant has been a fight for Palo Alto. The American Youth Hostel organization wanted the site for its program, but neighbors had different ideas.

Residents surrounding the Arastra House brought a lawsuit against Palo Alto on complaints that the organization would environmentally endanger the area. "They didn't feel the road could take the additional wear and tear," Freeland said.

"A lot of people want this house and the neighbors don't want the noise, traffic and a high impact on the environment," Hecht said. "I sent letters to the neighbors (about the proposed respite home for the deaf children) and haven't heard any complaints, yet."

In addition to Hecht, there are several other organizations interested in the Arastra House since its reopening of the proposal process. "She (Hecht) is not guaranteed any use of the house. The city council will determine who, if anyone, will use the house," Freeland said.

Palo Alto City Council is planning to hear the requests of organizations in the fall and make a decision on the use of the house in the beginning of next year, Freeland said.