Columbia Basin Signing Academy offers classes and other resources to learn ASL vocabulary.

American Sign Language is a beautiful and useful communication tool for children of all ages and abilities.

• Pre-verbal babies and children benefit from being able to express their needs and wants. They can also interact with you about what they see in their daily life, giving you a window into their world.
• Toddler and preschoolers can use ASL signs to expand their vocabulary. When you sign and read together, it is a wonderful, engaging activity for everyone. Your child can also benefit from being able to express things, like feelings, which can sometimes be difficult to vocalize. Also, as they work on different learning objectives, like colors or the alphabet, signing allows them to engage different learning styles. The auditory learner can hear the word, a visual learner can see the word, and the kinesthetic/tactile learner uses the physical act of making the word.
• School-aged children who sign have been shown to have a larger vocabulary, which helps them be successful readers. You can also use ASL to help your child with their spelling lists. Signing also increases their self-confidence as they get to take on that teacher role and show off their skills. If your child decides to pursue ASL in high school or college, they have a nice foundation of signs that they already know.
  

If you found this page from the KVEW or KNDU link and would like to register for the Rise and Sign parent/child signing class, you will need to go the Pasco Parks and Rec website for registration. To register for the Signing Stars preschooler class, please register through the Kennewick Parks and Rec website. If you would like more details about the classes you can visit the classes tab or email questions to info@cbsigningacademy.com.

Do you want to take Signing Time with you while you are on the go? Now you can! Go here and download the player you want (Windows or Mac). Once installed, you can get the free digital video. If you want to purchase more Signing Time product, you can save 5% using the referral code  cbsigningacademy. Going green and saving green!

A wonderful video put together by California State University, Northridge about signing with your deaf or hard-of-hearing child

Athena Schepmoes, our CBSA instructor, is an instructor through Signing Time Academy. The lesson plans are based on the award-winning DVDs, which teach ASL signs using catchy music, fun graphics, and memorable characters. You may have seen a clip of Signing Time on Nick Jr. or caught a show on PBS.