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Sign Language for Autistic Children
Signing is one of the most natural and accessible communication supports for many autistic children. It requires no technology, no battery, no device, and is always available. For children who have the motor skills for signing, it can provide an immediate communication bridge, and a 2006 research review of AAC, including manual signs, found it did not reduce speech, with most participants making modest gains.
We are not doctors. We are advocates. Communication support should involve a speech-language pathologist. This content is for informational purposes.
Types of Signing Used with Autistic Children
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ASL (American Sign Language): A complete language with its own grammar and syntax, used by the Deaf community in the US and Canada. Teaching a child ASL gives them access to a rich, living language and a community. ASL is appropriate for autistic children who have the motor control for signing and who will be around signers, at Deaf schools, with Deaf family members, or in communities where ASL is used.
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Key word signing (Makaton, Signing Exact English): Systems that use signs from ASL or other sign languages but paired with spoken English, signing only the key words of a sentence rather than the full grammar of sign language. These systems are designed as communication support tools rather than as a primary language. They are widely used with autistic children in educational settings.
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Simplified signing for specific vocabulary: Many families teach a small core of signs without committing to a full system, signs for "more," "all done," "eat," "drink," "help," "stop," "please," "yes," and "no." These high-frequency words address the most common communication needs and can be taught by parents without formal sign language training.
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Total Communication: An approach that uses every available communication modality simultaneously, speech, signing, AAC, pictures, gestures, facial expression, rather than selecting one. Total Communication accepts and values all forms of communication and is a good fit for autistic children who use different modalities in different contexts.
Does Signing Prevent Speech Development?
No. A 2006 research review of AAC interventions, mostly manual signs and picture systems, found that none of the participants in the strongest studies lost speech, and most made modest gains. When a child has a reliable way to communicate what they need, the pressure and frustration around speaking is reduced.
→A child who signs "more" while also attempting the word "more" is practicing both simultaneously
→Having a way to communicate can ease the frustration of not being understood
Starting Signing at Home
Start with the most functional signs first
More, all done, help, eat, drink, yes, no, stop, please. These signs address the child's highest-priority communication needs and provide the quickest return.
Sign consistently in context
Sign the word every time you say it in the relevant context. Consistency across communication partners, parents, siblings, teachers, accelerates acquisition.
Use ASL resources that are freely available
ASL is documented extensively on YouTube, Handspeak, and Lifeprint. Many free resources exist for parents learning signs. You do not need to be fluent to support your child.
Accept approximations
Just as you accept approximated spoken words, "ba" for ball, "da" for dog, accept approximated signs. A child whose motor coordination is developing will not produce perfect signs. The communication intent is what matters.
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