Teaching a non-verbal 4 year old ASL

Question

My son has a severe speech delay and has been diagnosed with apraxia. He desperately wants to communicate but can't vocalize. We are taking him to speech therapy but we also want to teach him ASL. I have taken some ASL courses and have a deaf friend who had taught me a lot but I am struggling to teach him the signs I know.How should I start?

Answer 1

I would approach teaching him ASL, just as you would approach teaching a child English. Use it as much as you yourself can, and as the other answer stated, make sure to teach those first few basic signs. Learning it yourself, and using it in everyday conversation will most likely be the best way for him to learn.

Answer 2

I personally would start with the basics. Teaching him the signs for foods, drinks, more, hungry, thirsty, and bathroom/toilet. I feel that teaching him these things first will give him the ability to communicate the most important things to you as far as what he needs throughout the day. I think multiple times a day every day showing him the signs and telling him the English equivalent. Also using these signs in your every day life when speaking to him. Consistency is the key when learning another language. Make sure you use verbal English but also use sign language.