Expert: Valerie Herskowitz - 1/13/2010

Question
QUESTION: My sons speech therapist thinks he suffers apraxia He has autism but the few things he can sign very basics.  MORE ALL DONE THANKYOU he can kinda say plus a few words he cant sign I beleive if he learns more signs he might say more we have a daughter with apraxia not as severe as him but she used hand signals to que her sounds.  I want to do more with him but I know nothing about signing or teaching a 5 1/2 yr old with autism an some fine motor skill problems.  What can I do?

ANSWER: Well-you came to the right person!! I teach a webinar that you can watch in your home that discusses techniques for teaching sign language to children with autism. It's called:
Teaching Sign Language to Children with Autism: A Motor Planning Approach

How's that?

Here is the link to register. You register and then we send you the link so you can watch it at your leisure.

http://www.valerieherskowitz.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=133

That said, you may also want to look into other types of communication as well as sign language. If he is 5 1/2 years old and can only communication a few words, then he needs to learn some easier forms of communication as well. I advocate that children who are low verbal use multiple forms of communication. You can watch this webinar called, Communication Strategies for Low and Non-Verbal Children as well:
http://www.valerieherskowitz.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=131

You can also register for both classes this way:
http://www.valerieherskowitz.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=193

Let me know if you like the classes!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I wanted to let you know he does use a PEC book and he is being evaluated for a communication Device thank you

Answer
Sounds great! I think you are on the right track. Teaching sign language to children with autism is very different than teaching others sign language. You really have to take the motor issues into consideration. VERY IMPORTANT. That is how I have been successful. My son, who very apraxic, signs quiet well now using these approaches as does many of the kids that I have worked with.