sign

[Guest guest]

Montyman's Mom,

Brook also only learned the sign for " more. " He learned that sign around 15

months and that was it. He was always so sweet when he gently put his little

hands or fingers together. He had several different styles and they were all

adorable. We all had our favorites of his " more " sign.

Later his teachers decided to go with pecs and they quit having him use

the more sign to communicate. That was not a good idea! He never caught on to

pecs, so that didn't work out either. So now he doesn't even use the more

sign anymore, but I know I could get it back quickly as I have done that

several times in the past. Now we are trying augmentative communication. I

don't think that has been a success either, but we are still trying. We were

doing better with the " more " sign as he used it to communicate " yes " or " I

want. "

It was only a waste of time because we were told that this was going to

work and that he would learn sign before he could speak. Well actually Brook

can say a few words when he is made to, it is very difficult for him, and for

us all the signing and pecs went no where. What do you expect with no eye

contact? We never could spend hours a day instructing Brook, he just isn't

interested or motivated and just gets frustrated.

As far as food goes, that has always been a big problem, getting him to

eat, I mean. He is very picky and spits food out of his mouth frequently. He

also doesn't chew very well. Now that he is on risperdal, since Feb, he is a

lot hungrier and still picky!! I wish he had a friend like Hannah. When

Brook was in preschool he did have a little girl in his class who has a

chromosome deletion who just loved him. That was really nice, of course they

to moved and I haven't seen them in a while, and they wouldn't remember each

other now. They may meet up again someday though because we moved too and

now are not too far apart. The little girl's mom saw Brook at his summer

program last month and recognized him and it had been around 7 or 8 years

since we have seen them.

Marisa

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/10/02 3:54:27 AM Pacific Daylight Time, poggim@...

writes:

<< Brook also only learned the sign for " more. " He learned that sign around

15

months and that was it. He was always so sweet when he gently put his little

hands or fingers together. He had several different styles and they were all

adorable. We all had our favorites of his " more " sign.

Later his teachers decided to go with pecs and they quit having him use

the more sign to communicate. That was not a good idea! He never caught on

to

pecs, so that didn't work out either. So now he doesn't even use the more

sign anymore, but I know I could get it back quickly as I have done that

several times in the past. Now we are trying augmentative communication. I

don't think that has been a success either, but we are still trying. We were

doing better with the " more " sign as he used it to communicate " yes " or " I

want. "

It was only a waste of time because we were told that this was going to

work and that he would learn sign before he could speak. Well actually

Brook

can say a few words when he is made to, it is very difficult for him, and

for

us all the signing and pecs went no where. What do you expect with no eye

contact? We never could spend hours a day instructing Brook, he just isn't

interested or motivated and just gets frustrated.

As far as food goes, that has always been a big problem, getting him to

eat, I mean. He is very picky and spits food out of his mouth frequently.

He

also doesn't chew very well. >>

Marisa,

I would almost think you were writing about Seth! Only difference is we are

just going to start with AC this year. Hmmmmm, I guess I shouldn't get my

hopes up about the AC working.

Gail :-)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/10/02 10:13:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

smilinggail@... writes:

> I would almost think you were writing about Seth! Only difference is we are

> just going to start with AC this year. Hmmmmm, I guess I shouldn't get my

> hopes up about the AC working.

> Gail :-)

Gail,

We used sign with Maddie from the time she was 1. She never could do it

back to us, but receptively she had been up to 15 signs!!!! Once we

started PECS though, she lost a lot of them. She still knows bath, eat, sit

and of course, ball....;-) Donna, she never got words like *more*, I think

because they're too abstract.

Donna, Maddie's mom (....;-)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/10/02 3:30:04 AM Pacific Daylight Time, dtycer@...

writes:

<< By the way, Monty and Hannah had a very unique relationship, and she

was very good for him, and visa-versa, to this day they have that special

relationship, but Hannah is now married and lives three states away.

Montymans Mom

>>

Oh Donna....this is so sweet! I don't know whether to laugh or cry over the

ending.

Gail :-)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/10/02 9:18:51 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

rickvargas1@... writes:

<< Just curious Gail and Marisa, when you say you will start or have started

AC... what are you specifically referring to? Is there a technique or

particular item?

On signs, Gabby never " took off " with sign however she does know - more, all

done, bath, yummy, hungry, thirsty and sleepy. However, I usually have to

prompt her to sign it. It's usually not done spontaneously.

We had some success with PECS and we still use them around the house some

but she now has a device (voice output computer thing - DYNAMO) and she is

just amazing everyone with how she can communicate using it :-)

I just think that she is SO strong visually versus any other type of

learning. I don't even have to teach her these signs most of the time, she

just gets it... uses them appropriately and recently has begun maneuvering

her way through the pages.

Anyway, good luck guys... I wonder if something like the dynamo would be

able to help your kiddos out.

Sandy

mom to Gabby (6, ds-asd) and Adam (2)

>>

Hi Sandy,

Seth learned 3 signs in preschool. More, cup and all done. They quit doing

it last year because they said no one would be able to understand what he was

signing because his stubby little hands just didn't make the signs well. We

have done pecs for 3 years, but he only has about 4 food choices that he

really knows now. It's not a convenient form of communication for our home.

We need to keep everything like that out of reach or Seth will chew it

up....so......we just quit trying to do it at home. I'm just starting to

check out all the AC devices now. You use the Dynamo? I have heard it's

hard to use, program and carry around. Do you find that this is true? I've

been searching the net looking for anything I think would be a workable

choice for both home and school. It's so cool that Gabby is doing so well

with her communication! Hope it works as well for Seth and .

Thanks!

Gail :-)

[Guest guest]

>>Marisa,

I would almost think you were writing about Seth! Only difference is we are

just going to start with AC this year. Hmmmmm, I guess I shouldn't get my

hopes up about the AC working.

Gail :-)

Just curious Gail and Marisa, when you say you will start or have started AC...

what are you specifically referring to? Is there a technique or particular item?

On signs, Gabby never " took off " with sign however she does know - more, all

done, bath, yummy, hungry, thirsty and sleepy. However, I usually have to prompt

her to sign it. It's usually not done spontaneously.

We had some success with PECS and we still use them around the house some but

she now has a device (voice output computer thing - DYNAMO) and she is just

amazing everyone with how she can communicate using it :-)

I just think that she is SO strong visually versus any other type of learning. I

don't even have to teach her these signs most of the time, she just gets it...

uses them appropriately and recently has begun maneuvering her way through the

pages.

Anyway, good luck guys... I wonder if something like the dynamo would be able to

help your kiddos out.

Sandy

mom to Gabby (6, ds-asd) and Adam (2)

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

Brook has tried the type of device you are talking about and that is

augmentative communication. The first one he was supposed to wear around his

waist, which he learned how to take off, I guess it really bothered him.

Another one was on the table where the kids have circle time and the latest

is a device that he wears on his wrist with just 4 signs with voice output.

I'm not sure how it was going because there was a problem with it and they

had to send it back and get a new one. At the last IEP they were very

optimistic that this one would be better for him, and he can't get it off.

So I'm hopeful that he'll be using it. By the way Brook did understand other

signs, he just could make any of them besides the " more " sign. But he also

understands the words we were using without the sign, his favorites were " all

finished, " " bath " and " bye bye in the car. " It's really great that Gabby has

taken so well to the dynamo!!

Marisa

[Guest guest]

Hi Gail,

No, actually the Dynamo is very easy to program. At least it has been for me. My

guess is if you can work your way through your computer/internet/etc, you can

program the Dynamo w no problem. Gabby's school staff, however, never could

quite figure it out so I had to teach them (sigh) BTW one funny note on this -

the letter I got from the district the other day mentioned something about the

Dynamo and " ongoing training and support " for ME. Had to laugh as I was the one

doing the training.... ok, ok... but moving along LOL...

As for the rest - it would really depend on the child, I think. Carrying around

is not hard - it's very compact. It comes with a short handle which we are

working on having Gabby use. She prefers this so much more than the over the

shoulder strap they also provided. But it's fairly light weight, easy to carry

imo.. but we are working on having Gabby carry it and not dropping it or

throwing it.

Ease of use - fairly easy in that it's just programmed buttons. The child just

needs to press the button and the voice output is activated. Gabby (somehow) has

even begun moving through the pages on her own, purposefully.

I am guessing the only bad reputation the Dynamo might get is with the

programming. If you can understand that you have to create a page first, then

" link " to it from another page, you can get it.

OH, almost forgot - also, there is an extensive amount of pictures in the Dynamo

however really not as many food items as I wish it would have :-) In the case

where i can't find a pic to match, I try to find something similar, then change

the text and Gabby tends to understand anyway.

I think the Dynavox is the larger version and wonder if someday Gabby will use

one of those :-)

Sandy

mom to Gabby (6, ds-asd) and Adam (2)

Re: sign

In a message dated 8/10/02 9:18:51 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

rickvargas1@... writes:

<< Just curious Gail and Marisa, when you say you will start or have started

AC... what are you specifically referring to? Is there a technique or

particular item?

On signs, Gabby never " took off " with sign however she does know - more, all

done, bath, yummy, hungry, thirsty and sleepy. However, I usually have to

prompt her to sign it. It's usually not done spontaneously.

We had some success with PECS and we still use them around the house some

but she now has a device (voice output computer thing - DYNAMO) and she is

just amazing everyone with how she can communicate using it :-)

I just think that she is SO strong visually versus any other type of

learning. I don't even have to teach her these signs most of the time, she

just gets it... uses them appropriately and recently has begun maneuvering

her way through the pages.

Anyway, good luck guys... I wonder if something like the dynamo would be

able to help your kiddos out.

Sandy

mom to Gabby (6, ds-asd) and Adam (2)

>>

Hi Sandy,

Seth learned 3 signs in preschool. More, cup and all done. They quit doing

it last year because they said no one would be able to understand what he was

signing because his stubby little hands just didn't make the signs well. We

have done pecs for 3 years, but he only has about 4 food choices that he

really knows now. It's not a convenient form of communication for our home.

We need to keep everything like that out of reach or Seth will chew it

up....so......we just quit trying to do it at home. I'm just starting to

check out all the AC devices now. You use the Dynamo? I have heard it's

hard to use, program and carry around. Do you find that this is true? I've

been searching the net looking for anything I think would be a workable

choice for both home and school. It's so cool that Gabby is doing so well

with her communication! Hope it works as well for Seth and .

Thanks!

Gail :-)

[Guest guest]

> In a message dated 8/10/02 9:18:51 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

> rickvargas1@c... writes:

>

> << Just curious Gail and Marisa, when you say you will start or

have started

> AC... what are you specifically referring to? Is there a technique

or

> particular item?

> On signs, Gabby never " took off " with sign however she does know -

more, all

> done, bath, yummy, hungry, thirsty and sleepy. However, I usually

have to

> prompt her to sign it. It's usually not done spontaneously.

....> Sandy

> mom to Gabby (6, ds-asd) and Adam (2)

> >>

>

> Hi Sandy,

>

> Seth learned 3 signs in preschool. More, cup and all done. They

quit doing

> it last year because they said no one would be able to understand

what he was

> signing because his stubby little hands just didn't make the signs

well. We

> have done pecs for 3 years, but he only has about 4 food choices

that he

> really knows now. It's not a convenient form of communication for

our home.

> We need to keep everything like that out of reach or Seth will chew

it

> up....> Gail :-)

Hi ladies,

Lately, I have been really questioning what is the best direction to

take with Josiah on this topic. For most of his life I have been

trying to teach him to sign just some very basic signs...eat, more,

hi, bye, potty, out,...early on he learned and signed eat and then

stopped using it...same with potty, the only one he has retained is

the sign for get me, out, up (raising his arms at you as you pass by

or when asking him the question directly). We have been using PECS

for over two years now and he still will not retrieve any picture of

anything at anytime...though he understands what many of the pictures

stand for. Trying to get him to grasp them in order to hand them to

me is a JOKE!!! He instantly pulls his hand away and we get bogged

down in a hand tug of war ---losing sight of the whole process of

communication in the process! So to focus on the issue of

communication I got one of those clear visual boards -I put a pic on

either end and then ask him which he wants. Which ever he looks at

is his choice... he is pretty consistent at this. But of course it

is totally initiated by me not him.

A couple of years ago we used a small talker board with him and he

caught on to it really quickly and would push it with out prompting

on several occassions to request to go potty. Since, his baby

sister broke it. I wonder if perhaps going with another augmentive

communication device wouldn't be more productive then the signs and

pecs?

Another question that keeps coming to mind is the fact that he

understands 'everything' I ask of him, and if I ask with clear

choices and give him time to respond positive or negative --he

answers in his own way. He basically communicates with sound

gestures, a specific grunt or noise for most daily needs...potty,

hungry, being bothered or upset by someone, hurt, frustrated, each of

these has its own specific sound. I can tell from another room what

is the problem based on the specific sound he uses. With this in

mind I am highly questioning myself as to the whole point of even

bothering to use signs with him...as he understands the spoken word

just fine...and he isn't communicating back with the signs so what is

the point!? The pecs, I can see some hopeful use in the

future...cause he does make choices off them with the eye contact and

as sensory challenges improve hopefully he will grasp and initiate

communications with them...but then how long might we have to wait

for THAT! Do you guys see any point in continuing to try to get him

to use the signs??? Would really appreciate your thoughts here.

Thanks,

Lyn

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/10/02 2:09:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

smilinggail@... writes:

> They quit doing

> it last year because they said no one would be able to understand what he

> was

> signing because his stubby little hands just didn't make the signs well.

URGH!!!!! Gail, this ticks me off so so much!!!! You know, instead of

recognizing Seth's hand movements and giving them meaning (a Floortime

tactic), therefore making him empowered and successful, they give up because

he's not doing it right??? Sheesh. KenCrest, Maddie's early intervention

provider, used to take anything the kids did and use that...for instance, the

word *more* was done just with thumbs and fingers spread out because a few of

the kids signed it that way...it was just easier for them. URGH

again...people just amaze me.

Gail, have you looked into a Mac for Seth? It's on a simpler level and

maybe he can start out easier that way. Verbal words have no meaning for

Maddie yet, and every time we try those type devices, she hurls them across

the room.

Donna

[Guest guest]

Hi Lyn,

Gosh, too bad his talker board broke. Hope you can get that replaced since

you saw improvement with it. I'm totally lost on this issue myself. *I*

really would like to use pecs, but will take whatever Seth ends up using

best. The class he may go into uses sign while speaking all day long. We

have our own sign here at home for a few things, but if we had a sitter in,

they would have no idea what Seth wanted. The district said they would try

different AC devices this coming year. We'll see how that goes. Doing pecs

at home is very difficult. We tried a variety of different ways to use it.

I even painted the magnetic paint on the wall and did the pics on magnets, so

when we weren't using it, nothing would be around for Seth to eat. I'm going

to figure out how to use pecs one way or another! LOL I guess I just got to

frustrated with it and had to put it away for a while. I think I'm ready to

face the challenge again now. I think. LOL I'm just going to hang in there

and keep trying anything until we find what works best for Seth. That's

interesting that you know what the different sounds mean that Josiah makes.

I'll have to listen to Seth more carefully. I know when Seth coughs two or

three times, it means *Daddy*. LOL Don't know how he came up with that

one...and it took me a long time to figure it out. I think the board you

are using and that he *looks* at what he wants is a great start! That's an

obvious sign that he can discriminate the signs. I'd say that was a huge

success.

Gail :-)

<< Hi ladies,

Lately, I have been really questioning what is the best direction to

take with Josiah on this topic. For most of his life I have been

trying to teach him to sign just some very basic signs...eat, more,

hi, bye, potty, out,...early on he learned and signed eat and then

stopped using it...same with potty, the only one he has retained is

the sign for get me, out, up (raising his arms at you as you pass by

or when asking him the question directly). We have been using PECS

for over two years now and he still will not retrieve any picture of

anything at anytime...though he understands what many of the pictures

stand for. Trying to get him to grasp them in order to hand them to

me is a JOKE!!! He instantly pulls his hand away and we get bogged

down in a hand tug of war ---losing sight of the whole process of

communication in the process! So to focus on the issue of

communication I got one of those clear visual boards -I put a pic on

either end and then ask him which he wants. Which ever he looks at

is his choice... he is pretty consistent at this. But of course it

is totally initiated by me not him.

A couple of years ago we used a small talker board with him and he

caught on to it really quickly and would push it with out prompting

on several occassions to request to go potty. Since, his baby

sister broke it. I wonder if perhaps going with another augmentive

communication device wouldn't be more productive then the signs and

pecs?

Another question that keeps coming to mind is the fact that he

understands 'everything' I ask of him, and if I ask with clear

choices and give him time to respond positive or negative --he

answers in his own way. He basically communicates with sound

gestures, a specific grunt or noise for most daily needs...potty,

hungry, being bothered or upset by someone, hurt, frustrated, each of

these has its own specific sound. I can tell from another room what

is the problem based on the specific sound he uses. With this in

mind I am highly questioning myself as to the whole point of even

bothering to use signs with him...as he understands the spoken word

just fine...and he isn't communicating back with the signs so what is

the point!? The pecs, I can see some hopeful use in the

future...cause he does make choices off them with the eye contact and

as sensory challenges improve hopefully he will grasp and initiate

communications with them...but then how long might we have to wait

for THAT! Do you guys see any point in continuing to try to get him

to use the signs??? Would really appreciate your thoughts here.

Thanks,

Lyn

>>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/11/02 6:30:13 AM Pacific Daylight Time, duffey48@...

writes:

<< URGH!!!!! Gail, this ticks me off so so much!!!! You know, instead of

recognizing Seth's hand movements and giving them meaning (a Floortime

tactic), therefore making him empowered and successful, they give up because

he's not doing it right??? Sheesh. KenCrest, Maddie's early intervention

provider, used to take anything the kids did and use that...for instance,

the

word *more* was done just with thumbs and fingers spread out because a few

of

the kids signed it that way...it was just easier for them. URGH

again...people just amaze me.

Gail, have you looked into a Mac for Seth? It's on a simpler level and

maybe he can start out easier that way. Verbal words have no meaning

for

Maddie yet, and every time we try those type devices, she hurls them across

the room.

Donna

>>

Hey Donna....Yeah, our autism program is sooooo rigid. Everything is done a

certain way and you stay at one thing until you master it. Seth would still

be on the *more* sign if we stuck with sign. His *more* sign was like he was

holding a ball in his hands and then he would push the fingers of one hand

into the palm of the other. I'd say that was pretty close to what it was

supposed to be, but wasn't close enough for them I guess. Just another

reason we are OUTTA THERE! LOL What is Mac? Switches or the computer?

Seth does understand words...well, the ones he hears a lot. Hope you are

enjoying your birthday Donna!

Gail :-)

[Guest guest]

Hi Lyn,

I'm in the same boat. It seems like there are no meaningful

connection with our child. Communication has many issues like

problems with understanding language, confusion over too many words,

memory problems, reducing auditory processing problems, failure to

generalize meaning, need for an alternative system, frustrations from

the inability to communicate, difficulties communicating in different

environments, lack of social communication, and social rule

deficits. With prayers hopefully we'll find an answer that we can

compare our sons strengths and weaknesses of some type of

communication, whether or not they can speak. I have learned that

will perform better with visual aids. It seems will be

confused during transitions from one situation to another. This year

reminding or physically guiding him with the basic sign language and

with the pics has helped improve on him cooperating. Along by

pointing towards the object with a short phrase, by using one word.

He may not bring me a pic but it has helped as it'll grasp in his

mind to understand for the what's, when's, & needs. is also

starting to become more verbal, even if I don't understand his words,

but he has come along way from his only word " No " , excuse me he has

graduated to 3 words in a sentence. I do know one of the strongest

areas that we must remember is that most of our kids need the

structure routine along with the steps to independence, broken down

for the targeting skill in the areas needed. Do not discontinue with

what you've been using, I say it will still help as a reminder to

decrease confusion. Plus some behavior issues will cut down some.

Sorry, for blabbering on and on. Hugs.

Irma,14,DS/ASD

> Hi ladies,

> Lately, I have been really questioning what is the best direction

to take with Josiah on this topic. For most of his life I have been

> trying to teach him to sign just some very basic signs...eat, more,

> hi, bye, potty, out,...early on he learned and signed eat and then

> stopped using it...same with potty, the only one he has retained

is the sign for get me, out, up (raising his arms at you as you pass

by

> or when asking him the question directly). We have been using

PECS

> for over two years now and he still will not retrieve any picture

of

> anything at anytime...though he understands what many of the

pictures

> stand for. Trying to get him to grasp them in order to hand them

to

> me is a JOKE!!! He instantly pulls his hand away and we get

bogged

> down in a hand tug of war ---losing sight of the whole process of

> communication in the process! So to focus on the issue of

> communication I got one of those clear visual boards -I put a pic

on

> either end and then ask him which he wants. Which ever he looks

at

> is his choice... he is pretty consistent at this. But of course

it

> is totally initiated by me not him.

>

> A couple of years ago we used a small talker board with him and he

> caught on to it really quickly and would push it with out prompting

> on several occassions to request to go potty. Since, his baby

> sister broke it. I wonder if perhaps going with another augmentive

> communication device wouldn't be more productive then the signs and

> pecs?

>

> Another question that keeps coming to mind is the fact that he

> understands 'everything' I ask of him, and if I ask with clear

> choices and give him time to respond positive or negative --he

> answers in his own way. He basically communicates with sound

> gestures, a specific grunt or noise for most daily needs...potty,

> hungry, being bothered or upset by someone, hurt, frustrated, each

of

> these has its own specific sound. I can tell from another room

what

> is the problem based on the specific sound he uses. With this in

> mind I am highly questioning myself as to the whole point of even

> bothering to use signs with him...as he understands the spoken word

> just fine...and he isn't communicating back with the signs so what

is

> the point!? The pecs, I can see some hopeful use in the

> future...cause he does make choices off them with the eye contact

and

> as sensory challenges improve hopefully he will grasp and initiate

> communications with them...but then how long might we have to wait

> for THAT! Do you guys see any point in continuing to try to get

him

> to use the signs??? Would really appreciate your thoughts here.

>

> Thanks,

> Lyn

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/10/2002 10:25:28 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

eljmom2trio@... writes:

> A couple of years ago we used a small talker board with him and he

> caught on to it really quickly and would push it with out prompting

> on several occassions to request to go potty. Since, his baby

> sister broke it. I wonder if perhaps going with another augmentive

> communication device wouldn't be more productive then the signs and

> pecs?

>

> Lyn,

It sounds to me like AC is the way to go with Josiah with communication.

Ask the school to do an AC eval and then ask them to buy him the best device

for him. I would concentrate my efforts on something that I know has a good

chance of working, you already know he did well with the AC device.

Personally, I would probably drop the sign, but maybe keep some of the pecs

if you are having success with that. Eventually as he gets better at using

AC he may not need PECS. Why continue to make him use a communication system

that is too difficult or not working. He should use AC since that is the

easiest and most effective way for him to communicate.

Marisa

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/11/03 3:33:40 PM Eastern Standard Time,

writes:

> The sign is the right fist coming down and striking the

> left fist, in front of his chest/body.

It's the sign for job.

nancy

[Guest guest]

I would like to thank everyone for their input. It seems that the sign is

indeed for work/job, etc. It's his project at school, super secret, lol.

Guess he told me all he could, :-). Thanks, again.

Beth

[Guest guest]

Trisha is 11 and she signs, eat, drink, finish, wait, movie, later, more,

hurt, sorry, excuse me, please, water, milk, thank you, flower. These are signs

she uses in some way daily or routinely. There are more she uses less often

and some she has used only once or twice but the above pretty much covers her

ability to communicate with us using signs, she doesn't seem to like using

pictures and except for Moma and NO you can't understand the rest of what she is

trying to say.

[Guest guest]

Irma, at what age did this all start to pull together for , where he

was forming words more? Montyman has only recently started saying 'no!' and he

is trying to say 'peanutbutter' because right now he thinks thats the best

thing in the kitchen. Both of these at appropriate times. He had speach at

school but they discontinued three years ago saying ..he has none! I got

tired

of fighting them over it...the school that is.

For Montyman's outing today I took him and the grandkids and some of

their friends to the library. We all sat around a big table and read books to

Montyman, then helped him put puzzles together. He thought it was ALL about HIM

and he loved it! LOL...think the kids had fun, too.

Donna, Montyman's Mom

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/18/03 9:02:23 AM Central Daylight Time,

writes:

> How many of you guy's/gal's have kid's who can sign more than three or four

>

> words? Montyman had a deaf foster sister in the home for 7 years, we signed

>

> with him (with speech) and tried the entire time to get him to sign. He is

> nonverbal and he will only sign 'more' or 'go away!' and tho it isnt a true

> ASL

> sign, he is pretty good at 'no'! LOL.... I am just curious. Also, how

> many

> here have ds/asd kid's who can speak more than a handfull of words?

> Donna, Montyman's curious Mom

has more signs than I can remember. He used them until he was over 10.

Now he is quite verbal but not understandable to strangers, mostly just to

me. His speech really took off over the last few years. He does some rote

sentences but doesn't spontaneously put phrases together. His vocabulary is too

big

for me to count.

Ex. of 's speech. This a.m. he overheard me talking about a dr. appt for

him tomorrow. When he got home today he said " , Bean. Grandma watch alex,

bean. go dr. " That is a very good conversation for .

Karyn

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/17/2003 8:35:51 PM Eastern Standard Time, dtycer@...

writes:

> How many of you guy's/gal's have kid's who can sign more than three or four

>

> words? Montyman had a deaf foster sister in the home for 7 years, we signed

>

> with him (with speech) and tried the entire time to get him to sign. He is

> nonverbal and he will only sign 'more' or 'go away!' and tho it isnt a true

> ASL

> sign, he is pretty good at 'no'! LOL.... I am just curious. Also, how

> many

> here have ds/asd kid's who can speak more than a handfull of words?

> Donna, Montyman's curious Mom

Hi Donna,

Maddie does no signing, however she does understand some (ex....sit, eat,

bath, come). We've been signing to her since she was less than a year old.

Not only does Maddie have no verbal words, she also doesn't comprehend

them. For instance if I say, " Cookie " ...notta...but if I show her the picture

of it or the actual cookies, she goes immediately and obediently to her chair

and sits at the table. When I show her a pic of the tub and do the sign for

bath, she goes upstairs to the bathroom. She's very smart, just that her

autism is very blatant and totally our main dx!!!!

Donna

[Guest guest]

signs: " more, no, all done, eat, drink, help, work, toilet,

same & time " .

has graduated up to 3 words in a sentence loud and clear,

which has been recently. Especially when he wants something. Not

ready to start a conversation. Would not be able to answer some

questions will only reply " yes, no, leave me alone or go away " . Can

not tell anyone his name if asked, as its still hard to pronounce or

does he understand the question? Some people might think he is

foreign or he is a NT person as this happens alot when he does not

respond, duh. : ) is tall and slim and many do not see the

Downs. You can imagine when I take him to the public womans restroom.

I started to write down the words he can express but the list goes

on and on. Wow! Did not even realized it and there are alot. Wahoo!

His communication skills started out like others have mentioned

humming, odd sounds, echolalia, not responsive to verbal cues, acts

as if deaf, communicated with gestures instead of words, would grab

my hand to guide me towards what he wanted as he had difficulty

expressing his needs would point instead of words. If he had ever

wanted to express any word it was always hard to understand.

has always had a speech therapist, he never has cooperated

with any of the ST throughout his school years. Boy, he has come a

long way with this and is finally expressing his words. Thought he

never had any interest or he would never talk.

I would still allow to learn some signing and the visual cues

when possible as when he gets too overwhelmed or over-stimulated and

can not express his words. I would at least understand him and

intervene before any behavior problem starts.

Irma,14,DS/ASD

[Guest guest]

Hi Karyn,

I'm smiling with this message. This is just awesome. Give a

hug. Now, thats a conversation. Love it! Good luck for tomorrow's

doc's appt.

Irma,14,DS/ASD

> has more signs than I can remember. He used them until he

was over 10.

> Now he is quite verbal but not understandable to strangers, mostly

just to

> me. His speech really took off over the last few years. He does

some rote

> sentences but doesn't spontaneously put phrases together. His

vocabulary is too big

> for me to count.

> Ex. of 's speech. This a.m. he overheard me talking about a

dr. appt for

> him tomorrow. When he got home today he said " , Bean. Grandma

watch alex,

> bean. go dr. " That is a very good conversation for .

>

> Karyn

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Donna,

I would have to say this past school year at the age of 14, that I'm

hearing more of it. Boy, I hope he surprises me like what Karyn had

mentioned about her son .

Heehee, Peanutbutter. Yep! Leave it to Mr.Cool. Too cute. If thats

what it takes that is progress. Sorry that the school had failed

Montyman and removed his speech therapy. Even if he was non-verbal

there are many other ways to work around it and he would pick up

anything whether near the ST or in a different type of setting that

Montyman would like. I don't blame you what a battle it would of

been. What was replaced instead of ST?

L did not want to participate with the group during his Speech

Therapy time so he would go sit on a huge bean bag but he was

observing because he would yell out words that other kids would not

say and of course everyone was shocked. Then the ST would also do

some type of interactive activites involving words and Ahem...

's favorite dessert, ice cream. Of course this was perfect for

him to enjoy working for it and making his own float.

Back during 's elementary years I received daily calls of all

the negative stuff and this past MI school year I would recieved

positive news. Felt good. Just glad I had a little break from the

negative. Still can't jump for joy yet as next school year would be

another trial.

Montyman sat down throughout your circle time? I say that is good.

This is exactly how to approach Montyman with your very own

therapeutic time for speech. Remember its similar to the Floorspan

and it is when our young man wants. Oops! Master is calling

me " mom, come here " . Meaning for us that its time to leave for his

ABA therapy and to see his Chiro. doc. Gosh, I remember I use to

have to drag him out the door now its the other way around. ; )

Take care.

Irma,14,DS/ASD

[Guest guest]

Good to hear about calling you to go. This is good news!!

Diane

>

> From: " mum592001 " <ICANFIELD@...>

> Date: 2003/06/18 Wed PM 02:54:00 EDT

>

> Subject: Re: sign

> Master is calling

me " mom, come here " . Meaning for us that its time to leave for his

ABA therapy and to see his Chiro. doc. Gosh, I remember I use to

have to drag him out the door now its the other way around. ; )

Take care.>>>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Hannah can sign many signs from sandwich, to Top Ramen (she has her own

sign) to yes, some animals, swing (big on our list) and there's a few others.

Her fine motor skills aren't great so her signs are sloppy. Oddly enough, she

doesn't sign Mom or no and she doesn't nod yes or shake her head no and waving

at people is still a skill we're working on.

Hannah has no words. Though once a year we hear something very clearly and

appropriately. Last summer it was the word " blue " . We had gone bowling (love

those balls) and her bowling ball was blue.

a (Hannah 6 1/2)