Benefit #1) Sign language often leads to vocal language: Sign language is great for early learners who are not yet speaking because it’s portable and we can eventually teach a child (who doesn’t acquire speech) to use signs across the operants. For example, we can first teach the child to request or mand for ball when he wants it, then to label a picture of a ball and finally to answer questions about a ball (you throw a _______).
Benefit #2) Children who are taught signs are more accepting of physical prompts, which are often needed for teaching lots of skills. Most of my clients with autism who had no ability to speak when I began working with them, also had no ability to echo, match, touch body parts or imitate either. I have found that teaching 3-5 signs very early on helps children accept physical prompts and can reduce problem behaviors.
Benefit #3) Sign language can help teach a child to imitate. One of the biggest misconceptions about sign language is that a child needs to know how to imitate before we can teach him to communicate via sign. Luckily, this is not the case. I have found that one of the best ways to teach a child to imitate is to teach them 3-5 signs because you can often fade your physical prompts to imitation prompts.
