My students need sign language videos and practice materials, such as alphabet cards and peg-it boards, to help them communicate their wants and needs in the classroom.
Imagine the frustration you would feel if you were unable to communicate with others. My students are beginning to use sign language to communicate in the classroom!
My students attend a substantially separate program for children with autism in a Massachusetts public school.
Our classroom is very specialized to meet their individual needs. Many of my students are nonverbal and show frustration in trying to communicate their basic wants and needs in the classroom.
My Project
The "Signing Time" videos are fun and engaging for young children. We currently use the first three videos in the collection and we're finding success. Some students have already acquired new signs, which they are able to generalize and use in other situations (e.g. asking for help or more and requesting certain foods and toys). These videos have "non-distracting, yet vividly colorful and playful, images of young children and adults communicating with sign language, using the beginning words young children will most need". We don't want to stop here! We want to continue our sign language journey with more videos and other materials (puzzles, flashcards, books, etc.) that help reinforce the learned skills.
This project could change the lives of these students by giving them a voice and a better understanding of the world around them.
Children with autism are often severely delayed in learning to speak. The hope is that through sign language, these children will learn to communicate, which may lead to improved speech development. Sign language is a universal language that can be used anywhere at any time.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Holloway and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
