everyone deserves to be part of the conversation

Access to language is frequently denied to Deaf and Autistic children. Good-intentioned parents want to prioritize speech therapy. Logical-minded doctors & therapists say that using sign language and other forms of non-verbal communication will hinder a child's speech even further. The problem with both of these well-meant approaches is that it is prioritizing verbal speech over language acquisition.

There are countless examples of how babies are capable of using and understanding sign language before their bodies develop the capacity to speak. Yet, when it's a Deaf or Autistic child, we think that sign language could somehow be bad.

Having a foundation of language is important for so much more than just communication. It contributes to our ability to learn and understand the world around us, as well as process the emotions and thoughts from our inner world. Behavioral problems often stem from an inability to communicate or meet our needs.

So, EVEN IF your child's speech were to be delayed by learning sign language, speech should not be your first priority. Speech can be built upon a foundation of non-verbal language. It is much, much harder to build that foundation later in life. By denying Deaf and Autistic children access to non-verbal languages, we are handicapping them so much more than their actual disability.