Just Deaf

"In Norway they offer sign language to babies at school."

Van Scheppingen family

Learning sign language

"When family counseling started, we were taking sign language classes."

"It was a blessing in disguise, since we wanted to learn a new language anyway, and we enjoy it."

Why is the first year of life so important for language acquisition?

Why is it important for children to learn sign language if they have a CI?

How much language input is necessary for proper acquisition of a language?

How early should you start learning a (first) language?

"I think it's good, learning sign language from both a hearing and a deaf teacher."

How can you learn sign language as a parent?

"At the day care they watched the Lotte & Max DVDs with the children, and that's how they learned how to sign."

Is it difficult for parents to learn sign language?

Why is it important to start learning sign language before your child gets a CI?

"The best response is when people ask: could we join you for one of those sign language classes?"

"Guus' first sign was MOMMY!"

"I learn all kinds of signs from Guus."

"When Guus was three years old we were taught sign language at home."

Can children learn sign language at school?

"I had to sign in public for the first time -- that was quite a big step."

"We run into all kinds of situations where we're forced to use sign language. That's quite exciting."

"The sign language classes evolve alongside your child."

Why is it important that parents learn sign language too?