SIGN LANGUAGE AND AUTISM – PERFECT TOGETHER?

The Autism News | English

* Featured article *

By Louise Masin Sattler, NCSP | Nationally Certified School Psychologist | Owner of Signing Families

I have taught sign language for more than two decades to children and adults.  My students have been as varied in age, occupation, and background as the flowers in a botanical garden.   Their reasons for taking sign language workshops or courses also have been different. I have taught new parents with infants who were excited to learn “baby sign”, college students who wanted to fulfill their “foreign” language credit requirements, business owners who wished to communicate with deaf employees and yes; parents, teachers and caregivers who worked with individuals with special needs, such as Autism.  I have been asked on numerous occasions if sign language “works” with autistic children.  Just like flowers in the garden not being exactly alike, neither are children with Autism. However, after working for most of my career within the field of special education, it is   my opinion that sign language can help autistic children with language development.

There has been much research conducted regarding the use of signing and a child’s development of language skills.  Signing to a child can be wonderful for promoting verbal language skills for young children who are typically developing or who face challenges.  Sign language also involves manual movements, something that many autistic children seek.  Facial expressions that accompany sign language help to create the “mood” or relay intent, thus providing a plethora of visual information to facilitate communication.  Signing also is interactive and for some that enhances the possibility for language development.   Cuing a child with sign to help promote social interactions or giving signals for caution if there is a potentially dangerous situation are other valuable advantages to learning sign.

Now not all sign languages are the same.  Sign language is not universal. American Sign Language (ASL) is actually more akin to French in word order and syntax. Thus, most special educators who work with hearing children recommend a form of signed English or Pidgin Signed English (PSE) in public school programs.  This enables the voice and signs to match with more fluidity than if ASL is used.  Also, signing does not need to be word for spoken word. A teacher or parent can say a whole phrase but simply sign key words to reinforce or emphasize a concept.  When I give educator and parent workshops for my company, Signing Families, I prefer to discuss this method of sign language to exceptional individuals as “Functional Sign Language”.   Thus, this form of communication is a modality that augments verbal language and perhaps other systems, as well.  (Such as picture exchange.)

Signing also can be cross-cultural.  You can verbalize in Spanish the word “leche” but make in sign language the sign for MILK.  Using this approach helps ease the gap when a child from a Spanish speaking home attends an English speaking school where sign language also is being used to assist with language development.

How do you start to learn to sign?  What is involved?  First know that learning to sign is a process.  I tell my students to learn five to ten signs at a time.  Use them daily.  Practice.  Teach them to your children, friends, and family.  Then add the next five to ten   signs when you mastered the first set.  Start in a developmental order if you are working with children.  Be consistent with signing.  You can’t help a child learn sign language if you only sign a few minutes a week.  Take classes if you have time.  Also search out good DVDs and websites that are instructional and interactive.  Don’t be passive learners.  Use the tools you learned.  And remember that signing with an Autistic child should involve learning signs that are appropriate for their environment.  If you buy a DVD for the child make sure that it is engaging and not over stimulating.  Consider borrowing from a local library or Autism support network that has a private loaner center.  Use photographs of signs and place them around your home on objects or to cue activities such as hand washing.

HAT

I could write volumes about the benefits of sign language for any person living in the United States. ASL is in the top five of most frequently used languages in this country.  I also acknowledge that some do not agree with the use of sign language with autistic children and adults while others are very excited about the prospect of signing. You can’t please everyone.  I accept that.  My goal is to make people curious enough to want to learn more and make informed decisions. But, what really gives me a sense of accomplishment after a long day is when I hear from families who have learned to sign report that their once non-communicative Autistic child has started to use sign to employ communication!

Please feel free to learn more about sign language and the companies that we support or who share our vision of helping others by visiting our SIGNING FAMILIES website.  We are www.Signingfamilies.com.  We also are on FACEBOOK or you can simply drop an email to Louise (at) signingfamilies.com

Louise Masin Sattler holds a graduate degree in School Psychology from Penn State and has specializations in multi-cultural education, deaf education and sign language.  Currently, Louise has been busy with numerous speaking engagements related to her company SIGNING FAMILIES.  She often is asked to conduct sign language workshops for families, educators and caregivers of young children or individuals with special needs.  Louise is known for her high energy and creative style of teaching where she melds together sign language instruction with child development information.  Most recently she created a fourth DVD that has received wide praise and international distribution- “BABY, TODDLER AND PRESCHOOL SIGN LANGUAGE” presented by Louise Sattler and Friends. Unlike other ‘baby sign” DVDs this one was created with parents, educators and others who live and work with children in mind. It is not designed for infants or toddlers to watch but those that will teach them sign language. Louise notes that the making of this DVD was a labor of love and SIGNING FAMILIES has proudly contributed a portion of proceeds from sales of this DVD to organizations working with autistic children and their families.

Louise lives in Maryland with her husband, Marc.  Their children, Natasha and Seth, both learned to sign as infants and continue to do so as young adults today!

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