Total Communication

[Guest guest]

I don't have any research, but I have a personal story. I went through the same

thing you're going through. I had a speech teacher say that attended

better when one used sign with verbal speech, but his teacher refused to learn

sign. Her reasoning was, " I don't use sign with my other children " (so what's

the use of having an IEP?). I told them at the IEP meeting that was to

have someone proficient in sign to be with him at all times to interpret for him

(he already knew some sign because of an early intervention - he signed key

words and yes was mostly non-verbal at that time except for grunts and all vowel

sounds). I pushed, and said he wasn't behaving in P.E. because no one could

understand what he wanted. They balked, so I demanded 5 evaluations from

disinterested parties (people who had no vested interest one way or the other

over his education), who had special education and communication training. They

did the evals, and everyone of them suggested he have someone who knew his

words, as he was trying to communicate. They " settled " for the aide learning

his key words over the summer. I don't know if she actually did, because 2

weeks into the next school year, my mom caught the teacher verbally abusing him

and we switched schools.

Just push for what you want. Try to get a speech/language pathologist on your

side. They HAVE to accommodate your child. A lot of 's frustration and

acting out was because no one understood what he wanted, let alone " chit chat "

that he might want to share. He couldn't tell them he had to go potty, because

the symbol was a letter t done with a twisting wrist and they didn't know what

he was doing. All this, and the speech teacher AT THAT SCHOOL used sign with

him.

So hang in there, and I hope you get the research you need.

Loriann

[Guest guest]

i too believe that signing helps facilitate the language, ashton used to be

so agressive when she would try to verbalize and almost noone outside me had

any clue as to what she was jabbering......she would go ape nuts and cry and

yell and hit at such a small age...so she learned sign and those of us close

to her did too.. now her speech is coming around, after 4 years of hard work,

but she still uses signs, says the word, and points to her picture que...i

think shes getting language in three ways......that way if we have a sitter

over who cant understand her, she can use the sign flashcards and ques to

know...... thats just my opinion, but it seems to help her.....so good luck

and i know its so frustrating.....i think its really neat alot of high

schools and elementary schools now offer sign as foreign language.......take

care all,

[Guest guest]

,

I don't think you need " proof " that it WILL help. Call another IEP

meeting, and as a group you can resonably decided that total

communication will help him attain his goals.

Personally, I think I would tell her where to go. You, above all, don't

need this hassel.

S

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[Guest guest]

Her opinion is WORTHLESS> Evaluation by a speech pathologist, backed by an IEP

are what is necessary for your child to receive what he needs. If she doesn't

feel capable of learning sign (which even a non-verbal child can learn) than she

needs to be replaced!

Sara

>>> Scherb@... - 03/24/0 1:12 PM >>>

From: " Scherbert " <Scherb@...>

Hi all,

Lines are being drawn in the sand!!! Sam's morning aid has threatened to

quit if she is forced to use sign with him. Gee she would have to learn

something new. Sorry tobe sarcastic! She said show me the research that he

could benefit from total communication.

I know some of us are for and other are against total communication. And

some of us must have some research to back up our feelings. For my family

at least basics in sign is necessary as the boys get older. JJ and Tim are

non-verbal. JJ may always be non-verbal, I think he sould be taught sign

basics. That is another issue altogether.

So please send this info/sites to me. We want to give both sides--pro and

con.

Thanks,

& Garry, parents of (9), (8), JJ (6), (5), and

Esther (3). All adopted & with Down Syndrome.

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[Guest guest]

> speech

>>teacher AT THAT SCHOOL used sign with him.

Loriann,

You have a speech teacher who actually knows sign!!! Unheard of here!! The

only person here that knows sign is Sam's itinate teacher who just came here

from a much larger district. She is appauled as we were whem we moved here

5 years ago. As a special ed teacher in the San Francisco bay Area I don't

think you could get a job without sign. Here out in the boonies only the

CH and teachers of the deaf know sign. It is really DISCUSTING!!!

& Garry, parents of (9), (8), JJ (6), (5), and

Esther (3). All adopted & with Down Syndrome.

[Guest guest]

Sara,

The thing I can't understand is that this aid has a disabled child in a

wheel chair. I don't think she has any speech!! Doesn't she want this for

her child? Or is it envy that Sam can speak?

& Garry, parents of (9), (8), JJ (6), (5), and

Esther (3). All adopted & with Down Syndrome.

----------

>From: MIDVALE <Midvale@...>

><onelist>

>Subject: Re: Total Communication

>Date: Fri, Mar 24, 2000, 11:38 AM

>

>From: MIDVALE <Midvale@...>

>

>Her opinion is WORTHLESS> Evaluation by a speech pathologist, backed by an

>IEP are what is necessary for your child to receive what he needs. If she

>doesn't feel capable of learning sign (which even a non-verbal child can

>learn) than she needs to be replaced!

>

>Sara

>

[Guest guest]

I have a 5 year old son who was just implanted on Monday. I would like to know

if there are parents out there that have been successful at speech and sign with

thier children who have a CI?

[Guest guest]

Sharon, are you familiar with CICircle? It is a group comprised of

parents with children with implants. I belong to it only because I like to

learn as much as I can, so I can tell you it is very active. You will

definitely get many answers to your questions there, especially the one you are

asking. People have definite opinions on that.

You have to request membership, but I'm sure it will be well worth your while.

Meanwhile, lots of of luck with your son's activation and journey to better

hearing.

Judy in Jax

>

> I have a 5 year old son who was just implanted on Monday. I would like to

know if there are parents out there that have been successful at speech and sign

with thier children who have a CI?

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon,

I think your audiologist and speech pathologist will suggest you

concentrate on SPOKEN language rather than signed language when your

child is adjusting to his implant.

I've worked in schools where total communication is supposed to be

used, and it turns out to be signing 90% of the time, which rather

defeats the idea of learning oral language via an implant.

There is nothing wrong with being bilingual, and it certainly is a

life saver when the processor is off, but I think you should use oralism

when the processor is on and encourage your child to speak rather than

sign as much as possible. If he's been signing for 5 years, he will have

a good background in that, and concentration on spoken language should be

emphasized at this point. Why? Because spoken language is what he's

going to be required to know if he is to be mainstreamed in school.

I have a 5 year old son who was just implanted on Monday. I would like to

know if there are parents out there that have been successful at speech

and sign with thier children who have a CI?

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