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Hi. I have just started sign language with my 7 yr old son. He is autistic and is completely non-verbal. I am using the ASL method. My problem is that he has extremely stiff fingers an movement is a bit limited, are there excercises i can use with him? I am just so tired of not being able to talk to him and i wish he could respond. We have a strong bond and i know without telling exactly what he wants or needs but i would give everything for him to consiously make the sign for "i love you". I am teaching myself and my husband and my 6 yr old daughter how to sign and we love it. Are there any parents who have gone through the stages of signing? Please help. ↓
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| Name: mondo | Date: Feb 5th, 2007 10:15 PM |
| Hi! I have used ASL with my (now) 19yr old son for several years now. It has helped him lessen his frustration at not being able to communicate since he is non-verbal. I am sure you too will see positive results. I do not have advice/suggestions on the stifness, if the reason is medical, a physical or occupational therapist would be of great help to him. ↑ |
| Name: drika | Date: Feb 6th, 2007 9:21 AM |
| Thanks for the reply, Mondo. Did you have a lot of trouble in the beginning, i mean, how long did it take for him to understand that he can communicate this way and start using it? My son smacks himself on the head when he cant tell you what he wants and he cries or screams. any ideas on how to stop this? ↑ |
| Name: mondo | Date: Feb 6th, 2007 6:49 PM |
| every child is uniquely different..but have you tried using pictures of possible things he might point to when he becomes frustragted (or on the verge of ), maybe if he takes to pictures, he could have them within hi reach whenever he wants them and can point to them or bring them to you. Maybe get an array of all the things you can think of that he is interested in (and other items of daily life, i.e bathroom, bed, food items, outside ,family members,etc). Make a book out of these pictures and go through it with him even when he is not asking for anything, get him familiar with it so he knows that indeed there is a place (his book) where he can go to in order to "talk" to you. When he starts to hit himself, step in firmly (voice command and even hands on) and say : "Show me" as you open his book to him. I don't know that this will work but its a thought. My son hfas many binders filled with different pictures of all that is important to him and uses it to show us (plus signing) what is on his mind. Good luck. Oh, Praising him when he behaves well (if he react well to his book or to your intercession when you stop his behavior outburst) is always a good re-enforcer (verbal, not candy; it seems that verbal reward ehnances their self-esteem). !! ↑ |
| Name: drika | Date: Feb 7th, 2007 7:45 AM |
| Hi mondo, you have just given me a great idea, Thank you so much, i am going to try using the binder idea and see if it works. Thank you for the advise i am going to do it. ↑ |
| Name: angelagarvis | Date: Mar 2nd, 2007 9:48 PM |
| Keep it up. I am a mother of a child with ASD and understand. I have also worked many years with child with autism it takes time but they do get it, it is a great way to teach them how to use words. Aslo i have seen where kids learn to pair the word with the sing. Keep it up. GOOD LUCK and GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR SON. ↑ |
| Name: Kirsty | Date: Apr 18th, 2007 4:49 PM |
| Hi drika, mondo has give you great advice. I work in a residential school for children with autism and all our children who are non-verbal use either sign-a-long or pecs (picture exchange communication system). There are different stages for it. Phase one where the child hands you the picture of his wants/needs then phase 5 where the child will make a sentence "I want....." The final phase being sin language. Google it and I’m sure you will get help if not a can send you some more information. ↑ |
| Name: tinydancer | Date: May 18th, 2007 1:26 AM |
| My son was three and wasn't speaking (possible PDD we were told). Besides signing with him, we were also shown a strategy of using pictures on a board (velcro) for him to point to to show us what he wanted. You just start with a couple of photographs of favorite foods, toys, books. Then as he gets the idea of how to use it, you can add more, eventually creating a book of pictures for him to use to communicate his needs to you. Maybe if the signing is difficult, this could be another option for you. ↑ |
| Name: asdmom | Date: Sep 22nd, 2008 2:31 AM |
PECS
The picture exchange communication system is fantastic and needs to be used in addition to sign language (only use basic signs to get the message across to save confusion) look up PECS on the search engine ↑ |
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