My son's teacher told me today, that if he doesn't begin to talk soon, they will be using sign language again. Im not sure if she meant that this is a bad thing or not? It confused me a bit... I mean, if he chooses to communicate through sign language instead of being verbal, what's so wrong about that? Perhaps he just doesn't want to yet? My son will speak, when he wants to. He will repeat most anything that is said to him. He just doesn't speak, unless he is spoken to...
Why do I get the feeling that it's being implied that, since he isn't speaking to their liking, he isn't progressing? I don't want to force verbalization on him, it just doesn't seem... fair :?
Am I doing something wrong? Because the way I was approached about this made me feel like I am... He may not be very verbal, but he does communicate, and it may not be how they want him to (or in the time frame they wish for,) but it is on his terms. I personally think he is doing a great job, but it seems to not be enough...
Has he learned to sign then in the past? (If so, was he more verbose with signing than verbally?)
The teachers just need something to put into the books, it's like GCSE's, certifications, qualifications etc. It's largely pointless, it's just "proof" to onlookers.
Anyway I don't think you're doing anything wrong; the teachers are being pretty unreasonable trying to make you feel guilty simply because he isn't chatty, going by what you've said, he DOES communicate, when he sees a reason for it, so it's not that he's incapable, he just doesn't see a point of making small-talk (Like, most ASD folks really =p).
Also, teachers are well known for trying to force students to do things "their way" even when it makes no odds in the end.
Edit
It always helps to remember that you seldom hear of Autistic adults for the simple reason that Autistic children all get there eventually, at their own pace. So, what he doesn't do today is something he'll do just fine tommorow (proverbially)
Has he learned to sign then in the past? (If so, was he more verbose with signing than verbally?)
The teachers just need something to put into the books, it's like GCSE's, certifications, qualifications etc. It's largely pointless, it's just "proof" to onlookers.
Anyway I don't think you're doing anything wrong; the teachers are being pretty unreasonable trying to make you feel guilty simply because he isn't chatty, going by what you've said, he DOES communicate, when he sees a reason for it, so it's not that he's incapable, he just doesn't see a point of making small-talk (Like, most ASD folks really =p).
Also, teachers are well known for trying to force students to do things "their way" even when it makes no odds in the end.
Edit
It always helps to remember that you seldom hear of Autistic adults for the simple reason that Autistic children all get there eventually, at their own pace. So, what he doesn't do today is something he'll do just fine tommorow (proverbially)
He did use sign language a bit more than speaking in the beginning (when he began public school.) Just this past summer, he started saying more words and we were asked to stop signing. I've always been extremely patient with him and I've noticed that he responds much better to a patient approach, then a forceful one (that's just common sense and works for NT kids too, I think so anyways.) Id rather him work at his own pace and be happy, then be forced into whatever it is they think he should be... I mean, Im his mother, not a drill sargent...
btw... I like your signature :smile: ! I use to play D&D 3 years ago
Thank you for your comment!
It was a mistake by the school to stop signing communication just because he started to speak more. They should have continued with signing parrellel to speaking.
Signing is often used to encourage Autistics to communicate if they have delays in vocal communications.
Off the top of my head I forget how old your son is... I know that my Rachael is younger. At school with her, they use PECs...
http://www.polyxo.com/visualsupport/pecs.html even though she can speak words.
These visual cues are for teaching language communication which will eventually, hopefully extend to verbal communication rather than just echolalia and reciting.
It is working with Rachael. It seems that signing was working with your Son and then, when they stopped, he started losing the progress he had been making.
It was a mistake by the school to stop signing communication just because he started to speak more. They should have continued with signing parrellel to speaking.
Signing is often used to encourage Autistics to communicate if they have delays in vocal communications.
Off the top of my head I forget how old your son is... I know that my Rachael is younger. At school with her, they use PECs...
http://www.polyxo.com/visualsupport/pecs.html even though she can speak words.
These visual cues are for teaching language communication which will eventually, hopefully extend to verbal communication rather than just echolalia and reciting.
It is working with Rachael. It seems that signing was working with your Son and then, when they stopped, he started losing the progress he had been making.
My son is 6 years old :smile: We were using PECs along with signing.
The way we used them, was by using velcro on the backs of the pictures which was fun (he liked the sound effects :wink: )
I've decided to arrange a conference with all of his teachers.
I really appreciate the comments. And thanks for the link too! :grin:
~BK~
My son's teacher told me today, that if he doesn't begin to talk soon, they will be using sign language again. Im not sure if she meant that this is a bad thing or not? It confused me a bit... I mean, if he chooses to communicate through sign language instead of being verbal, what's so wrong about that?
Considering that I started with sign for all my boys as infants, I see nothing wrong with it.
Why do I get the feeling that it's being implied that, since he isn't speaking to their liking, he isn't progressing?
Because monkeys value their monkey chatter highly. The bandar-log are like that.
The way we used them, was by using velcro on the backs of the pictures which was fun (he liked the sound effects :wink: )
I've decided to arrange a conference with all of his teachers.
I really appreciate the comments. And thanks for the link too! :grin:
~BK~
The valcro method is what they use with Rachael also 
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.
Seems to be conference season starting up - lol
The way we used them, was by using velcro on the backs of the pictures which was fun (he liked the sound effects :wink: )
I've decided to arrange a conference with all of his teachers.
I really appreciate the comments. And thanks for the link too! :grin:
~BK~
The valcro method is what they use with Rachael also
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.
Seems to be conference season starting up - lol
Yes, it does seem to be open season for conferences...heh!
Not only do I have one coming up with my youngest son's teachers, I also have one to arrange with my oldest's :lol:
I always feel like I am the rope in a tug-o-war game...lol!
There's just not enough of me 
and I can't be in two places at the same time...
Things will be better next year, we're moving to another state that has much better schools and programs :smile:
I hope everything works out for the best for your daughter!
It wasn't so long ago that teachers tried to force children to write with their right hand only.
I should think that saying children should verbalise and not sign is a form of discrimination.
It wasn't so long ago that teachers tried to force children to write with their right hand only.
That happened to me when I was a child during the 1970's... fortunately my mother reported it to our Doctor and he wrote to the school telling them to stop.
Left-handedness rules :grin:
It wasn't so long ago that teachers tried to force children to write with their right hand only.
I should think that saying children should verbalise and not sign is a form of discrimination.
I don't understand why teachers would do that.
I would allow my son to write with both hands
if he wanted to...
I've become convinced that a certain number of teachers are far from reasonable people.
BK--I really like your Avatar!
He should also be allowed to write down what he wants to communicate if he doesn't feel up to speaking.
Gee, I wish we had communication books when I was at school as I was so forgetful about giving my parents notes or taking them back to school. I was fairly good at remembering to do homework in general but not so good at remembering to bring it to school to hand in.