Students, teachers learn sign language to help classmate

Seven-year-old Chae Enns was having a hard time communicating with anyone B次元官网网址� until he was given the gift of sign language.

Chae has Down syndrome and struggles with verbal communication. B次元官网网址淢ost of his communication is nonverbal, he says very little,B次元官网网址� said Helena Prins, a kindergarten teacher at Lighthouse Christian Academy in Langford.

Prins started looking into sign language out of B次元官网网址減ure desperation.B次元官网网址� She turned to the Internet and began looking up a sign or two to teach him.

It worked.

B次元官网网址淲e reached a wall, he was so frustrated,B次元官网网址� Prins said. B次元官网网址淗e is a very social boy, and he could understand what everyone around him was saying.B次元官网网址�

Once he learned a few signs of the Signed English system, ChaeB次元官网网址檚 behaviour and temperament improved.

B次元官网网址淲hen I started here he had behaviour problems, he was frustrated, and he couldnB次元官网网址檛 express himself,B次元官网网址� said Cassandra Nardini, a Lighthouse education assistant. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 very well-behaved now.B次元官网网址�

Teaching Chae to sign was only part of what needed to happen. Once Chae knew how to sign, others needed to learn too, so he could communication effectively.

The school hired Dorothy Tait, an augmentative communication consultant to teach signing to staff members.

Several teachers, including ChaeB次元官网网址檚 future Grade 1 teacher, the principal, vice-principal and education assistants are learning to speak with their hands.

B次元官网网址淭he whole community is supporting this child,B次元官网网址� Tait said. B次元官网网址淓veryone is learning it because they want to.B次元官网网址�

With so many people in the school able to communicate with Chae, the responsibility has been shared, Prins said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what makes it so special.B次元官网网址�

Chae started kindergarten in January for a second time, and is entering in Grade 1 next fall.

Kids in his class are learning to sign as well. In some situations when Chae feels he is being treated unfairly, he is able to use his hands to tell them that he is feeling angry. All his classmates can understand him.

B次元官网网址淚t allows the kids to interact with him,B次元官网网址� Nardini said adding his peers will travel through school with him over the next few years.

Some ChaeB次元官网网址檚 family members have attended classes along with school staff. B次元官网网址淚 need to practise more. Chae is actually teaching me, heB次元官网网址檚 very enthusiastic,B次元官网网址� said Becky Enns, ChaeB次元官网网址檚 mother.

Another bonus that stems from the sign language is his verbal communication has been slowly progressing as well.

B次元官网网址淚 make him say the word as well as the sign,B次元官网网址� said Becky. B次元官网网址淟earning the words has been a challenge.B次元官网网址�

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com