| Learning American Sign Language can have many | | | | would feel like to a baby who is trying to express his |
| benefits. Besides being able to communicate more | | | | or her needs by sign language, and in turn, have his |
| effectively with your deaf friends, once learned, you | | | | or her mother understand? What would that be like? |
| may decide to become a teacher for the deaf or | | | | How happy would you have made that infant? Now, |
| interpret for those who cannot hear. The earlier you | | | | let's fast forward 60 years. You are an elderly adult |
| start to learn ASL the greater the chance of | | | | that lost the ability to talk. You remembered some |
| mastery. Exposure at an early age is also extremely | | | | signs from your younger years. And, someone walks |
| beneficial, but not critical. However, the earlier you | | | | in that knows how to sign well. You start signing with |
| are exposed to this wonderful language, the greater | | | | this person, carrying on a conversation. How do you |
| your chances of obtaining your goal of working with | | | | feel now? Can you imagine all the thoughts and |
| those who rely on sign language to enhance their | | | | wishes that patient could easily express to the |
| ability to communicate. | | | | nurses and visitors? |
| For children, acquisition of a language comes more | | | | Research has shown that children who learn signing |
| naturally than it does for those who are older. | | | | at an early age develop better synapses in the brain, |
| Children are not reluctant to learn new languages, or | | | | and as a result, they develop a richer vocabulary |
| take risks. However, as an adult, we tend to take | | | | knowledge. Some children are not successful learning |
| longer to learn a language, or anything for that | | | | a spoken language, but achieve while learning sign |
| matter. | | | | language. Children have various skills and talents. |
| Today, schools are offering ASL as one of their | | | | Some children pick up any language with ease, while |
| curriculum offerings for world languages. However, it | | | | others struggle. Shouldn't we give children choices |
| tends to be offered only at the high school level. | | | | about what they want to learn? |
| Children need to be exposed to at an early age, such | | | | Now, some people may not know where to find a |
| as elementary school. Can you imagine the aptitude a | | | | sign language class for children, or for yourself. There |
| child would develop if he or she were exposed to | | | | are several sign language programs online. However, |
| American Sign Language in the early grades? What | | | | you have to pick the right one for you and your child. |
| would it be like for children across the country to | | | | You want to choose a sign language program that |
| know a second language like ASL? | | | | has themed lessons, an individualized progress chart, |
| Children as young as one year of age should start to | | | | large vocabulary all in video format, fingerspelling, and |
| learn how to sign. Babies do not have the ability to | | | | it should have a multiple meaning word section. There |
| vocalize their needs because of the lack of | | | | are programs online that would not meet your needs. |
| development in their vocal cords. However, children | | | | Find an ASL program online and have fun learning |
| can develop some sign language skills to communicate | | | | with your son or daughter. The greatest gift we |
| their desires, such as hungry, sleepy, or cold/hot. Not | | | | have is that of knowledge, and the greatest gift we |
| only are you satisfying the needs of your baby, but | | | | have to share with others is the ability to |
| also the infant is less frustrated. Imagine what it | | | | communicate with them. |