I'm trying to get really fancy here, and I've uploaded a video of Joseph to youtube. Here it is:
One of the most interesting things is to see how well he ignores all the distractions from the rest of the house. Trish is working with him. Dave is on the phone. Alex and Owen (our neighbor) are running around playing. You will want to turn the sound down!
4 comments:
He seems to communicate really well signing...is that something that he does well? And for the most part, he seems happy, versus frustrated...we get frustrated when we have to read too much (and we're verbal, too!)...
Yes, ALL of his expressive language is sign. He was diagnosed hearing impaired at 18 months, wore hearing aides, and started school in a hearing impaired class/school. Then, in kindergarten started refusing to wear his hearing aids, and low and behold, his hearing had improved. The geneticist was the only one not shocked. She has see late brain development in other kids with funky chromosomes. So, he is a non-verbal autistic kid that signs really well. His language is still not fully developed--he has echolalia (sp.) like other autistic folks, but it is all sign... If he had not had the early hearing impairment and been in traditional special ed classes they would have probably used PECS with him. I think much of his progress is due to the fact that he had early access to a language that was visual. Now, much of our frustration with school is that no one really can keep up with his sign... even the in the class for hearing impaired children... Fundamental problem with the educational system.
What a good signer! And how impressive that he can block out everything around him.
Wow. Amazing how putting language in through the eyes, rather than the ears, made such a difference for him! He reads and communicates so WELL!
How many of us would give our eye teeth for a system of communication that worked like this for our children! Keep fighting for him. You are doing the right thing.
Post a Comment