Using simple signs is a great step to encouraging communication. Teaching your child a few signs to communicate basic wants and needs will empower them. We are not trying to teach the children signs in place of talking, we are giving them a way to communicate before the words come from their mouths. If they don't sign exactly, that is ok, as long as it is a consistent motion for the desired word. Provide them with the verbal model of what they are trying to say and make sure they are watching your mouth when you say it.

The above link is for a low tech communication system. Your child can point to items to request, you cant print the sheet to use with your child if they are not able to say. In D203 some of the words we have been working on were eat, drink, sleep, finished, more, go, stop, and love.