14 months old, week 2

Juli frontally moved down the stairs one step at a time on her butt.

Understanding as abstract as appreciation

Juli stood in the middle of my bedroom and pointed at the treasure box. She looked "please" and produced necklace.

There was no necklace in that box. I pointed to the donwnstairs. I gestured "come-here" repeatedly and explained that necklace down-there, come-here. Look-for necklace, come-here.

Juli finally toddled toward me. We went downstairs. In the kitchen, I uttered Look-for necklace, look-for+++. Nothing. In the living room, I did the same. Nothing.

I led Juli into my den. Actually I knew all along the way where the necklace was. Juli stood in the doorway while I uttered Look-for+++ Ah! I pointed at the necklace lying on the floor and told Juli Found!

Juli entered and took a look. She forwarded to pick it up. She looked in my eyes and ultra-clearly uttered Thank-you. I stood there astounded.

Last week, I did something and Juli uttered thank-you. I asked myself did she really articulate that? Did I really see that? Now I know it's sure enough.

Requesting with "please"

Whenever Juli wanted to go to the basement, she stood in front of the gate and pointed at it. Not in mood, I introduced please to her to convince myself. After a few practices, she began to use please after pointing at the gate.

Furthermore, she also practiced please when pointing at the washing machine (to get up on the top of it), when pointing at the light switch, and some other requests.

Use of ASL words

The following words that Juli has used with references in the last couple of weeks: thank-you, mouse (correct movement, 5-closed handshape on chin area), please (imitation when requested), baby (correct movement), art ("A" handshape <-> open handshape), drink (with a distinct movement), moon (20-handshape), tree (previously mistook for "Christmas" because of the same production) and some reguarly used ASL words.

People

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Ava using BSL

Ava at 14 months old uses BSL (British Sign Language)

Both of Ava's parents are deaf that fortunately Ava was able to access language right from birth. The mother believes that "hearing parents should be given the chance to learn sign language and be able to communicate with their own child fully. We think its important to note that eventually it would be great to see this opportunity given to grandparents, siblings, and other family members/carers.

"Language is not a privilege, it is a right." -- YouTube, "nickbeese"

"I want HANDSPEAK to be a learning tool for my granddaughter to share with me. She is 14 months old and already signing letters. Although she has normal hearing, I believe that the more people she can communicate with the better she will be able to understand our world. She is also being taught Spanish by her mother (my daughter)." -- T. Schmitt, Pittsbugh, PA.