Click here to read Zak's Story

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Here's what some of the therapists from Xanadu Behavior Therapy had to say about our workshops!

"Great presentation! The facilitators were energetic and gave great tips for remembering the signs. There were multiple teaching methods used like games, songs, etc. It was very interactive and provided lots of positive reinforcement."

"I loved the enthusiasm the faciilitators showed about sign language and I loved that you shared your personal experiences about your own child with us. The way that you described each sign and how each sign is similar to the next was very helpful."

"This workshop has increased my ability to work with my kids. I have learned a great deal of new signs that will apply to my job. I can even use this with my own kids. It was a great learning experience. The instructors were very energetic and informative."

"Wonderful workshop! You made learning ASL very fun and left me wanting to learn more. The songs were a great way to help learn the different signs. One of the best workshops! I wouldn't change a thing."

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This is what the Speech Pathologists from West Milford School District had to say about our program:

"This information is so important to convey to parents of young children. I whole heartedly believe that teaching signing promotes language development and the best way for a child to learn is through the use of multi-modalities (tactile. visual and auditory). Thank you for your time and expertise."

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"I am a teacher of 3-5 year old children with disabilities. Three days a week the children are in a self-contained preschool class and two days they are part of the general ed. preschool program our school runs. In my morning program, I have a little boy who recently had a trach removed and has no speech. Eight of the staff and therapists from our school who work with him attended the Chatty Hands workshop at the request of the boy's mother. In addition to the signs we learned at the workshop, I purchased DVDs with songs and we sing and sign with both the classified and general ed. children.

In November, our small building had a feast that the preschoolers and kindergarteners participated in together. We taught the kindergarten children "Happy Thanksgiving" in sign. All the children were very enthusiastic about the signing, so the kindergarten teacher and I decided to do a holiday get together, also.

We learned "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolph" with signing in the preschool classes. As a class, we taught the kindergarteners, their teacher, and classroom aides the songs with signs, did a craft together, and had a snack. We plan on doing this kind of activity several more times before the school year ends.

During parent conferences, many of the general ed. parents asked us if we were teaching the children signing. They reported that their children were signing at home. The mother of an autistic boy, who is also in my morning session, told me he sings and signs the entire "Rudolph" song at home.

We are all very enthusiastic about this program and see it's benefits on a daily basis."

- Carla Bonham, Frankford Township School

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"Thank you and the team for such a wonderful teaching session. I was amazed that you can teach so many words in such a short period of time but it was well worth it. (My son) really loves the music on the CD and it provided me the perfect opportunity to practice some of the words you taught me." - Tessa

"I had a great time at your workshop. It was fun, informative and well structured. I am a teacher so I can appreciate what you are doing. Your workshop included personal touches, interactions, instruction and fun!!!! This is everything a good teacher tries to incorporate into a class. I am amazed that I have been able to remember and use all of the signs we learned in 1 workshop!! This experience was definitely better than trying to learn the signs from a book or the internet. Thank you so much!!" - Sandy

"The workshop was wonderful as well as yourself. It was so much easier to watch you than to look things up in our dictionary! It got me back into the signing mode for my daughter, as well as my son, who is so anxious to communicate and play with his baby sister." - Dawn