Learning disabilities and SignWriting....

[Valerie Sutton]

SignWriting List
April 23, 2004

Adam Frost wrote:
> I have a question from a friend of my father's. She has a son that has
> a
> disability cause from an accident from being dragged behind a truck.
> She
> has been trying to teach him sign, but he can't remember the signs too
> well.
> She had heard about sign writing from my father. I was wondering if
> any of
> you knew if sign writing would help. I am not too sure exactly what the
> disablity is, but he has some type of a learning disability and is
> mute. I
> know it is a difficult situation, but maybe you can give me some
> infomation
> that might be helpful.  I will give more infomation about the
> situation as I
> find out.


Dear SW List, and Adam!
What a sad story...That must be very hard for the entire family.

You know what I suggest?...I suggest you try it with him. Sit down with
him, and find a sign that he does remember. Then show him how that sign
is written. Then do one more...and show him how that one is written.
After around three or four signs, ask him if he can read the first one
you wrote. Does he remember that sign now, since it is written? You may
be surprised...he may remember signs better once he sees them written
on paper.

There have been some teachers who find that SignWriting stimulates
something inside an autistic child, or a mentally-retarded Deaf
person...their vocabulary increases...and not necessarily only in
signs, but also in spoken languages...even if it is only a few new
words or signs...that is something...Somehow SignWriting can trigger
better understanding...there is no scientific proof of this...only
experiences teachers have told us about...

So try it, Adam...Everyone is an individual and you need to mold it to
his needs...Val ;-)