Aspies For Freedom

Heh... I found out in Kindergarten that people could write/color left-handed and I thought it was the coolest thing ever! I practiced FOREVER it seemed like, and to this day, if I can't use my right hand, well, I can write LEGIBLY (if not neatly) left handed easily! SO thank you to all the lefties out there, without you I'd be just a boring 'ole righty! *laughs* Now if only I could figure out how to make an outie for when I get tired of an innie (hahahahaha)

Did he use sign in PLACE of words he knew? In place of words he didn't know? Or did he sign AND say the words at the same time?

IMO: (I'm not sure what NT means... but I THINK it would fit here) People (non-spectrum) flap thier hands all the time when they can't think of what to say... or to emphasize what they are saying...
Example: "Oh, we were over at... uhm... over at uhhh..." While they are waving thier hand in some direction. OR "I was SO ANGRY!" while they ball thier hands into fists and shake thier hands and arms.

Or perhaps that's just me, and I haven't realised other people don't do it quite so often and I'm unknowingly part of the spectrum (which wouldn't really surprise me at all.) *laughs*

hehe! I tend to use alot of hand jestures when Im at a loss for words, it's funny, Im not quite aware of it when I do this  

My son signed and said the words.

Thank you!
It reminds me of myself in some ways

From signing to speaking shouldn't be a black and white transition. Your son should be allowed to sign.

Whenever my voice sounds so awful due to a cold that I just don't want to speak, I sign or write instead. My form of sign language is very simple, as I don't know real sign language at all. (All I can recite to you is A, B, and C) I can't understand what people mean when they sign at all, and apparently my form of signing is easier to understand.

We're having a conference with Rachael's teacher tomorrow because she doesn't see the point in using the feedback book to inform us of Rachael's day. We are very unhappy at being shut out of Rachael's school life... The other children can tell their parents about their day... Rachael is unable to do that yet - we need that book. Afterall, Rachael has one-to-ones paid for by the council... how come they haven't the time to write us a few sentences.

We really do not want school to shut us out... and frankly, the involvement of her parents is in her statementing... the school should abide by that.

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I sure hope you get your communication book - the point is COMMUNICATION! I am not sure about the term statementing but it sounds like the Individual Education Plans in our area and they are legally binding. I do not know this teacher's training but think it does not include special needs - if it does then that is pretty scary! If the teacher does not realize your postion from the interview then do not waste your time there - go the principal and then the board if you have to - go to the media or an advocacy group if you have to.

I am a one on one and a check off page with a picture chart would make it easy to communicate activities eg. cut and pasting picture, reading picture, numbers for math (whatever is on their visual schedule - AND they should have a visual schedule of daily activities in picture symbol form that gives them information) ... anything that is relevant on a regular basis. Children can use a bingo dabber independently or hand over hand to communicate what they have done during the day. This type of communication page is photocopied for daily use and sheets are kept in duo tang book that is sent back and forth. On the top of the page is a place for the date and below that a place for info from home to the school eg. didn't sleep well, didn't eat breakfast, getting picked up early, relevant medical news - at the bottom of the page under the activities check off are a few lines for comments from school like best part of day, if there was a particular upset, lunch issues, trip reminders etc.
If your child can type he could learn how to use a talking in pictures computer program that allows him to type the symbols and tell you how his day was. My nephew did this at the end of everyday in his younger grades helped by his one on one.
Good luck. Please let us know how you do. This is a very important issue.

Sorry for the he...my post has a couple of errors - please excuse.

I think communication is the point, not speech. If you have good, strong signing skills, you can learn to speak later on pretty easily.

     Yes you make a very important point - but also signing and picture symbols are never used exclusive of speech if the child is able. They may help the child to use more speech. Any speech is still encouraged and reinforced. For the child to be able to have a system of communication that he or she can use is the important part - which is what I think you were saying.  I think unless the child is communicating sufficiently to get their needs met and interact with their world then an augmentative method is probably called for as it can aid with the cognitive processing either receptively or expressively. I personally would chose PECS but signing might suit a child more. As I said in my post though - I believe visual schedules should always be used regardless - I love it when teachers use them on the board as well for all the children - the words would be under the picture for example math. It is an easy way for all students to organize their day in their minds and stay on track with where they are and is more inclusive if everyone uses one from the board. It also helps all students to be more independent in knowing what to do instead of always asking the teacher what is next. In later grades the visuals could be more age appropriate.
     In my post 'Communication being the point' - addresses what I was trying to say about the teacher not seeing the point of a communication book being used between home and school - totally wrong though as a child gets older methods should be more age appropriate. I don't know where you are but we have agendas that every student in our school board has to carry with them for writing down assignment dates, trip information, other reminders that have to go home. It is signed by the teacher at the end of the day and the parent at home and inside the front there is a pocket for information notes about upcoming events etc., to go home from the school and pages coming back like signed report cards. This happens for ALL GRADES AND ALL STUDENTS. The teacher in question is very out of the loop as far as I am concerned with not seeing the point of how valuable a communication book is.