This guest blog post is by Jennifer Richards Sanchez and is part of our Making a Difference series.

After the birth of my daughter, Ava-now 20 months old, I was talking with a woman at my work (Becky Sawruck) whose son, Aidan, is hearing impaired. She said that the Signing Time series had made a huge impact on their life and enabled early communication with their son. I think Aiden knew close to two hundred signs by the time he was just two years old. Becky loaned me the Baby Signing Time DVDs to start with and we began watching them when Ava was around 6 months old. We have now collected all but four DVDs between both series, and Ava just soaks it all up with amazing retention. Her favorite DVD is Leah’s Farm She insists on fast-forwarding to the songs and grabbing everyone in the room, forcing us all into one big dance off! No one sits it out when that video is on!

I posted my story on the Signing Time Facebook Page because it was so touching:

Today at the Botanic Gardens, my daughter Ava and I met a 5-year-old girl who had a trach (a small tube in her neck through which she breathes due to respiratory failure). Because of the trach, she was unable to speak, but she could SIGN! I am sure Ava was staring at her neck with a confused look on her face and as a result the little girl signed to her mom that Ava was SAD. The mom told the little girl that Ava was not sad, and Ava chimed in by saying “hap” and signing HAPPY. I told them that we were excited to see the flowers and all the water ponds and waterfalls. Ava squealed and signed EXCITED!! The little girl giggled at Ava and her mom said, “You guys must watch Signing Time!”  It was amazing to watch Ava connect with and ‘talk’ to that little girl!

We are hoping to become fluent, keeping sign language as a second language for our family. With that as a goal, we are planning on taking a sign language class at the community college this fall to expand our signing and work on technique and everyday conversation. Watching the DVDs has kept us so motivated! Signing Time has been so motivating that my adult step children watch the videos with Ava when they visit, and two of the kids have enrolled in college sign language classes in order to better communicate with their sister. They also plan on teaching their children to sign in the future.

-Jennifer

Here’s your sign of the week!

This Week’s Featured Sign: Wet

Watch the Video (Click the Image Below to Play) Free QuickTime Player required

Download the Flashcard (click on the image. Print in color or black-and-white and adjust the print size according to your needs.)

Signing Time Volume 3 – Everyday Signs

Alex, Leah, and host Rachel Coleman teach ASL signs for the things you see, do and experience every day. Created for ages 1-8 but enjoyed by all! Available only on DVD. Close-Captioned. Approximate run time: 30 minutes, plus special features. Everyday Signs includes the following original songs, written by Rachel Coleman: Silly Pizza Song, Rainy Day, Good Night Baby, Proud to Be Me, Proud to Be Me, (DJ Lex “Tree House Mix”)

Buy Now

Here’s your sign of the week!

This Week’s Featured Sign: Full

Watch the Video (Click the Image Below to Play) Free QuickTime Player required

Download the Flashcard (click on the image. Print in color or black-and-white and adjust the print size according to your needs.)

Signing Time Volume 3 – Everyday Signs

Alex, Leah, and host Rachel Coleman teach ASL signs for the things you see, do and experience every day. Created for ages 1-8 but enjoyed by all! Available only on DVD. Close-Captioned. Approximate run time: 30 minutes, plus special features. Everyday Signs includes the following original songs, written by Rachel Coleman: Silly Pizza Song, Rainy Day, Good Night Baby, Proud to Be Me, Proud to Be Me, (DJ Lex “Tree House Mix”)

Buy Now

Master Signing Time Academy Instructor, has teamed up with the Signing Time Foundation to present Emmy Nominated Rachel Coleman live in Emonton!

When:

September 18, 2011
2:30 pm (Seating begins at 1:00 pm)

Where:

Royal Alberta Museum

12845 102 Avenue Northwest
Edmonton, AB T5N 0M6, Canada

Website: www.signingtimefoundation.org/edmonton

Tickets:

Children $10/VIP $20
Adult (13+) $15/VIP $30
BUY NOW
Regular Tickets available in advance or at the door. VIP tickets must be purchased in advance.

Additional Information: General Admission Seating ticket sales start at 2:00 pm. VIP tickets are limited and on a first come, first serve basis. VIP tickets provide preferred early seating and an entrance into the VIP meet-and-greet before the show. Additional VIP information will be provided once the tickets are purchased.

It’s Tuesday… here’s your sign of the week!

This Week’s Featured Sign: Bike

Watch the Video (Click the Image Below to Play) Free QuickTime Player required

Download the Flashcard (click on the image. The file contains a few color and black-and-white options. Print according to your needs.)

This week’s sign comes from: Baby Signing Time Volume 2 – Here I Go

Created specifically for babies as young as 3 months old up to 3 years, yet fun for the whole family! Features host Rachel Coleman, along with animated Baby Alex, Baby Leah, and Baby Hopkins. Baby Signing Time Volume 2 sets your baby’s day to music as you learn signs for everyday events in baby’s life: getting dressed, traveling, being polite, getting ready for bed, and more.

Buy Now