WORK & EDUCATION:
In the past 15 years I have worked as a Certified Nurses Aid & Certified Restorative Nurses Aid with adults, elderly and children. I have also worked setting up programs and maintaining them on military installations. I have been a camp counselor, swim instructor, American Red Cross instructor, computer instructor (MAC/PC), home visitor counselor and Day care provider. My experience also includes owning and running a Family Day Care (Hawaii Nei Keiki Center). B.S. in Human Services.

MY EXPOSURE TO ASL:
I have taken ASL classes as a second language in college. In 1996 I was fortunate to meet a lady who talked about Baby Sign Language and how she was so amazed at the results it had on both the caregiver and the child.

In 2000, I decided to open a Family Day Care to finish college. I had a child who was autistic, the Doctors, the family and assistants were all using ASL to help him communicate. It was great, after he learned the basic signs his tantrums reduced drastically. By signing he was able to tell us what he needed.
In 2002 my husbands sister had a child, her day care was teaching her how to use ASL to help her communication skills and to help reduce frustrations. It was just wonderful to see that she could communicate with her mom, dad and to us what she wanted. She is now 2 1/2 and her verbal vocabulary, in my opinion, far surpasses some of the three year olds that I have worked with. At 3 she is reading books singing songs and naming dinosaurs and tropical fishes.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH ASL & COLE:
I started ASL with my son at 3 months, he recognized the sign for milk at 5 months. He is now 9 months and has signed: Milk, More, and Eat. Today, while at Home Depot he looked up in the parking lot at a passing jet and made the sign for airplane. I praised Cole and acted like no big deal, but inside I was jumping up and down doing flips, and kept saying airplane so he would do it again and again. My husband was laughing. We taught him this sign two weeks ago. I am really excited that all our hard work is starting to pay off.

Cole is now 17mo and have a vocabulary that blows me away I can’t say exactly how many words because its just too many to count. He loves music, signing and books. He even loves to sit and learn the words on the flash cards. His favorite Sign is still airplane! ; )

Aloha & Mahalo For Your Time
Florence Dixon
Keiki Massage & Keiki Signs