American Sign Language (ASL) Essentials: Signs and Songs for Communication (8 credits)

presented by Heather Palmer MT-BC, MSEd

This self-study course has been broken down into categories that will teach you basic American Sign Language and give you the confidence you need to incorporate these signs into your sessions with a variety of music therapy interventions.  You will learn how to use these signs to help promote communication skills with children with disabilities.

This course is made up of short video segments that will cover the various signing categories. Each video contains a category of ASL which demonstrates how to sign the various ASL, a practice segment for you to practice each of the signs on your own, followed by the songs section that uses the ASL from that category and integrates them into songs.

 You will pause the video at the designated spots to practice the signs or songs you have just covered. There are four exams spread out throughout the course to check your ability to recognize the different American Sign Language signs and songs. You will be able to complete the course in your own time.

Outline of recordings:

Video 1 – Introduction (6 min)

Video 2 – A) The Alphabet B) action step C) songs D) action step (34 min)

Video 3 – A) Foods B) action step C) songs D) action step (44 min)

Exam 1 (Alphabet, food, and songs) (20 min)

Video 4 – A) Feelings B) action step C) songs D) action step (36 min)

Video 5 – A) Family B) action step C) songs D) action step (36 min)

Exam 2 (feelings, family and songs) (10 min)

Video 6 – A) Colors B) action step C) songs D) action step (34 min)

Video 7 – A) Pets B) action step C) songs D) action step (36 min)

Exam 3 (colors, pets, and songs) (10 min)

Video 8 – A) Weather B) action step C) songs D) action step (40 min)

Video 9 – A) Clothes B) action step C) songs D) action step (44 min)

Video 10 – A) Getting Along B) action step C) songs D) action step (44 min)

Exam 4 (weather, clothes, getting along, and songs) (14 min)

 Learning Objectives:

1.Participates will be able to recognize a minimum of one hundred and twenty (120) functional American Sign Language signs. 2.Participates will be able to demonstrate a minimum of one hundred and twenty (120) functional American Sign Language Signs. 3.Participants will be able to demonstrate 5 songs with corresponding signs 4.Participants will be able to identify 5 additional songs not covered in the course to address topics in the course (topics i.e. food, colors, family)

CBMT Domain Areas:

(III.A.2.fff) Verbal and nonverbal communication

III. Treatment Implementation and Documentation:  A. Implementation:  2. Provide individualized music therapy experiences to address client’s:  fff. verbal and nonverbal-communication.

(II.D.10) Design music therapy experiences that address clients’ goals and objectives based on available research; clinical expertise; and the needs, values, and preferences of the client. 

II. Referral, Assessment, Interpretation of Assessment and Treatment Planning:  D. Treatment Planning:  10. Design experiences to generalize goals and objectives across settings, people, subjects, behaviors, or time

American Sign Language (ASL) Essentials: Signs and Songs for Communication is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 8 CMTEs-Continuing Music Therapy Education credits. The Spiegel Academy, CBMT Approved Provider #P-106, maintains responsibility for program quality and adherence to CBMT policies and criteria.