Sign language help

twintotwin · #1 05-15-2005, 11:37 AM

Our ST has been teaching the boys signing to communicate.
He's on vacation this week & I'm desperate to find out how you would sign someone's name.
Like 'Milo'? Would I just sign the 'M' or all of the letters? Or something else?

I want to say to him "Mommy loves Milo".

Tks in advance!
~Kerry

Carriestockmal · #2 05-15-2005, 11:47 AM

I dont know the real way to say names. I just make them up based on what Jack can do. His fine motor signs are delayed, so gross motor signs are always better. Maybe you gould use the sign for M to be Milo?
As for the making up of signs - I've had speech therapists tell me that this is perfectly allright to do and others tell me that it is not. One therapist advised that if signing is a temporary way to communicate - then it would be ok to improvise. But, I know a couple who are in their 60's and have been deaf all their lives, have 2 kids, and 3 grandkids. They do not use conventional sign language to communicate - it's almost like they use a "slang" tht they made up together. They know enough to follow a conversation using typical sign language, but when talking amongst themselves, they use their own version.
Hope this helps/.

WeAdoptKids · #3 05-15-2005, 11:55 AM

THis is so exciting!! I loved it when our one son started to use and understand sign language. The way we were taught during the baby phase of signing was to sign Mom Loves then point to the person that we were talking about. Or it you are talking about the person you are signing to, point to them. Or to sign, I love then point to the person you are talking about or again to the person you are talking to.

Hope this helps a bit. You can also pick up a beginners sign book and flash type cards. There is a baby sign book and then there is also ASL. You can find the ASL on the computer to D/L and make your own flash cards.

Good luck,
Roberta

Ann · #4 05-15-2005, 12:40 PM

Yes - when it comes to signing someone's name - you make up the sign. Â*As has already been said - you use the letter that their name starts with and then place it somewhere on or near your face or head. Â*We were told (when learning sign for my daughter) that we should try and use a sign that describes the person. For example, for my daughter Hilary - we use the sign for the letter "H" and then use that hand shape to make the sign for "smile". Â*(since she was always such a happy kid). Â*That is now her "official" name sign. Have fun with it. Â*Kids pick up sign so quickly. Â*Jack was doing so well with it before his accident, now he has no functional use of his hands. Sigh . . .

Ann

twintotwin · #5 05-15-2005, 01:30 PM

Making up a sign sounds like fun- I really just hope that I don't make up a sign that turns out to be an already existing sign for a naughty word!

tks!

WeAdoptKids · #6 05-15-2005, 01:39 PM

This is not really waht you asked, but goes with what Ann said. We have several totally deaf friends and they have told us that in the deaf culture, you are given a sign for your name from a deaf person...then that becomes your sign for your name. Oh well, just a tid bit of information.

This is fun to talk about,
Roberta

cariaad · #7 05-15-2005, 05:03 PM

We used the letter "a" and the action of the sign for curious for Alli when we were trying to do signing. So I guess that goes along with Ann and the others. Good luck with the signing, we never caught on to it. Deb

madelyn and rynns mom · #8 05-15-2005, 10:29 PM

Hi,
If its a girls name you sign the first letter at the side of your cheek or chin, if its a boys name you sign the first letter at the side of the forehead. We are teaching Maddy and Rynn to sign with preschool signing books and dvds. Check out signingtime.com, their dvds are awesome and my kids love to watch them!!!!! Maddy cannot vocalize at all

and we don't know if she ever will, so we want her to talk to her twin sister and have a backup for her aug. comm. device.

Kris

twintotwin · #9 05-16-2005, 12:37 PM

Yes, we have one of the Signing Time videos. It's one of the better videos we have. But just like Sesame Street, when I can't get that song "Do The Rubber Duck"..duck, duck, rubber duck, rub, rub, rubber duck...) OUT OF MY HEAD, same thing w/the Signing Time song. lol

madelyn and rynns mom · #10 05-16-2005, 09:46 PM

oh ya!!! I hear the strawberry shortcake theme song in my dreams!!!!!!LOL

Thats why me and my husband buy them new dvds frequently, so at least the songs are mixed up!!!

Kris