Sign Language and Autism
By TLChimes
@TLChimes (4822)
United States
January 30, 2009 7:44am CST
How many of you started using sign with your ASD child? How did it work for you? Is there websites or books you would recommend?
My 5 year old ASD child had us trying so many methods of communication when she was younger and now her brother is non-vocal. We are using a few signs with him but I was wondering what others have done and how it worked for them.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@pheonixstar1982 (2307)
• United States
31 Jan 09
I have a brother that has downs and autism, he is non-verbal. We have used a machine with different words it would say when you hit different buttons so he could convey what he wanted, but he did not take to it well. We have a picture communication book that he uses sometimes and does well with, but mostly we use sign language. They are not always the proper sign but you get the idea of what he is trying to sign.
I know picture communication books are popular communication devices for people with autism.
1 person likes this
@pheonixstar1982 (2307)
• United States
31 Jan 09
I know the price of the talking communication device is expensive, but to make a picture book you can make one cheaper than you can buy one. I made the one for my brother myself. I took a three ring binder and cut poster board to make the pages in it. I took construction paper and used a different color for different pages, indicating what the pictures on that page was for. I hand laminated them all using contact paper. The first pictures used were pictures taken with a camera, but he had a speech therapist who had a program with pictures representing different things and those are the pictures now used. The pictures are Velcro into the book and on the front of the book there are three strips of velcro to give him choices of, say an activity to do, he picks the picture he wants of the three, or flips through the book to find the picture he wants. He has to take that picture and place on another strip of card board with velcro on it and hand it to me. Also when we take my bro out into the community he had a little hand held communication book with basic pics...like one of a restroom, yes, no, stores, hungry, thirsty, and the like.
As for sign language, my family took a class on american sign language and then my mom taught it to my bro. We have two different sign language books but so far we find that american sign language(also known as ASL) uses the easiest signs to understand.
1 person likes this
@TLChimes (4822)
• United States
1 Feb 09
Wonderful Idea! Thank you so much.
That's kind of what we did with the poster board in each room. We also did a "calendar" of things so they would know what they needed to do.
Maybe his Occupational Therapist will have an idea on where I can get some of the pictures that are better then what I have.
Thanks again.
@riah13224 (96)
• United States
22 Feb 09
my cousin has autism he knows some sine lanuage but wont use it
he knows what it means you can show him the sign then ask him and he will tell you
he talks a little
but my cousin dident take to it at all
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
30 Jan 09
my best friend's brother is autistic and they have taught him sign language.. i will forward her this discussion and have her give her response since she would know from experience
@mamaplus2angels (35)
• United States
6 Aug 09
My daughter is autistic and she is somewhat vocal. Her teachers do try sign language with her but she hasnt caught on. i prefer not to try because i would rather her talk and since she does a little id rather her focus on learning words than sign language.
@TLChimes (4822)
• United States
6 Aug 09
Meagan learned on her own and mixed it in with her vocals. Rowan has VERY few vocals at two.... Da is the only consistant one. We are using sign and vocals to avoid his frustration levels going to high. What seems to trigger one kid is fine for the other so finding a balance is tough.
Nice to meet you by the way!
