Sign Language
Signed Speech or Simultaneous Communication, Written by Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D. Center for the Study of Autism, Salem, Oregon. "In conclusion, teaching sign language to people with autism and other developmental disabilities does not interfere with learning to talk; and there is research evidence indicating that teaching sign language along with speech will actually accelerate verbal communication." http://www.autism.com/families/therapy/sign.htm
Sign Language: Enhancing Language Development in Infants and Toddlers by Heather Davidson, Drury College Summer 1999. http://www.parentpals.com/gossamer/pages/Detailed/893.html
Benefits of Early Signing on Language Acquisition and Development: Sign Language and the Hearing Child. "Our intention for this site is to provide information on how utilizing sign language with hearing infants can assist in the process of language acquisition." http://www.uoregon.edu/~cstein/index.html
Signalong Total communication system based on British Sign Language (BSL), using unaltered BSL signs whenever possible. http://www.signalong.org.uk
Student minces no words with new sign language. May 18, 2001 Posted: 4:00 p.m. EDT (2000 GMT) (CNN) -- A college student's thesis examining sign languages from around the world could provide autistic children or stroke-impaired adults with a new method to communicate. "The gestures are simple, mime-like and require a minimal number of separate movements. Those components, the thesis adviser said, make signing easier for people who might have finite motor skills or limited memory." http://archives.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/05/18/simpler.sign/index.html
The Development of a Simplified Sign System for hearing, but nonspeaking, persons and their caregivers. Website to share Simplified Sign System lexicon and Distinguished Majors Thesis "Memory and Recall of Signs: The Development of a Simplified Sign System" by Nicole A. Kissane, Dept. of Psychology, University of Virginia, May 2001. Need for a Simplified Sign System; Memory and Recall of Signs: The Development of a Simplified Sign System; Lexicon (520 sign images); Research Presentation; UVA Press Release. The "system is largely a hybrid of transparent signs from an array of formal sign languages ... is limited in sophistication, complexity, and size ... a system and not a language." Field testing of the system with people who have severe communication impairments and people in their support networks is not reported. Update Feb. 2006: over 800 signs and teaching manual developed, working to publish manual. http://www.simplifiedsigns.org
A Basic Guide to ASL (American Sign Language). Basic dictionary of ASL signs with animated and text definitions. http://www.masterstech-home.com/aSLDict.html
ASLPro.com Free on-line video dictionary of over 7200 American Sign Language (ASL) signs; includes religious signs, conversational phrases, ASL for babies. http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi