Signing Progress

Katie has been making great progress with her signing skills this school year! Her receptive skills continue to flourish, and she is also now starting to use expressive sign more and more every day. It seems like language is starting to click for her, and she's beginning to understand that the signs actually mean something.

Last week, I got this encouraging email from Katie's interpreter:

I think I failed to mention in Katie's communication book today something that I feel was a very big step with her communication. Besides the fact that she made several unprompted requests today regarding her wants, she did something else I want to share with you. Ashley (Katie's support educator) was working on numbers with Katie today. She had lots of numbers in front of Katie as we were working on her receptive skills. Ashley would say a number and I would sign it, and Katie would find the number and pick it up. We have done this activity many, many times. Katie will watch for the sign and often will need it signed again as she is having to watch for both digits. However, today I signed the number (64) and she looked at me and signed back to me "6" with that expression that was saying, "Did you sign 6 (60)?" Of course, she really signed 7, but that is her 6, 7, 8, and 9. I got so excited! I said to Ashley, "She just asked for clarification!!!!" She has many times looked at me for clarification (needing the number signed again), but this was the first time she tried to sign back to me asking for clarification. I think this is great! She really is getting it! This was the first time she has used turn-taking appropriately without being prompted. I hope this makes sense. It is hard to explain in writing, but I think this shows wonderful progress!

We were thrilled at this note! It's so wonderful to see Katie's language starting to develop! We are proud of you, Katie!