On Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 07:42:59 AM PDT, Lisa
███<lisa.███@███.com> wrote:
Good morning
Reaching out again because the help you gave was so huge! The student I work with knows about 100 signs now!! He is communicating everything through signing except certain words that that his hands just cannot get the hang of. Example.. he seems to have no awareness of his pinky fingers. His occupational therapist and I are working hard on this but for now when he signs a j for juice up but his mouth he uses his index finger. Ok that?s just one example. But what I have been struggling really hard
with is ?toys? , ?blocks?? or even ?play?. I thought about the sign for build.. because that?s what he does when he plays. Signing the shape of the toy just looks like him asking for his device or a deck of cards. With play or you he uses his thumb and index finger.. so I could go on and on and on. But for now I?m wondering if you have any thoughts.. or words he could use to ask for his toys/blocks?
ANYTHING you could suggest would be greatly appreciated!!!
Lastly... I'm typing this at work with my student distracting me so it may not make much sense.
Thank you for your time
███ (Name redacted to protect privacy)
Response from Dr. Bill:
Hello :)
A goal is massive communication and exposure to concepts. The "path" is irrelevant. Supply your student's brain with massive exposure to ideas and notions -- the brain will sort it out and cognition will grow. No one cares about your student's pinkie usage. The question is: Does your student have the ability to think about ideas and have you supplied your student with tools -- however unconventional -- to do so? When is the last time you caused your student to laugh with joy regarding some new discovery?
Do lots of various "attempts" communication.
Try lots of things then: Observe closely. Fail, fail, fail, fail, fail, succeed, fail. Then pay attention to the success and go in full on that! It is likely that the student will become fascinated with "something". Some random, strange, "stupid" thing. Ha. THAT is your opening! Run with it! Balance is not the goal! A balanced life is boring. Find what causes your student to get excited and then GO FOR IT on that topic. Pictures, words, signs, real-life touchable objects and every other reason ON THAT TOPIC for his brain to light up and start WANTING to know more, be more, and do more.I once had a student who liked "planes." By focusing in on that topic the student eventually reached pilot / industry level vocabulary and thinking processes on THAT topic. Here's the thing -- all that cognition? It transferred to other areas of his life.
Best regards,
+ Bill
________________________
William G. Vicars, Ed.D.
ASL University https://www.lifeprint.com
https://YouTube.com/billvicars