150 | unlocking the world of sign language with Marissa Ramos @riseandsigntherapies

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇In this episode, Dr. Tay hosts Marissa Ramos, a bilingual English/ASL speech therapist, to discuss the benefits of incorporating sign language into communication strategies for autistic and hard of hearing children. They dive into the overlapping needs of these children, the surprisingly low percentage of speech therapists who are fluent in ASL, and share insights on the importance of early language exposure. Marissa also discusses her personal journey with ASL and her advocacy for its broader use in therapy. The conversation highlights the significance of multimodal communication and introduces listeners to resources for learning and integrating ASL into everyday practice.00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview03:28 Marissa's Background and Journey into ASL05:36 Understanding Deaf Culture and Terminology09:26 The Power of ASL in Early Childhood13:13 Neurodiversity Affirming Approaches to ASL17:06 Sign Language as a Form of Communication20:20 Spoken Language vs AAC: Efficiency and Accessibility21:25 Understanding the Difference: ASL vs AAC22:34 The Benefits of Teaching Sign Language25:11 Statistics on Hearing Loss in Autistic Children28:15 The Importance of Multimodal Communication33:12 Language Deprivation Syndrome37:19 Resources for Learning ASL39:10 Conclusion and Next StepsRESOURCES⚡️ connect with Marissa on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook⚡️ check out her resources, including the free 100 word checklist here ⚡️ want to learn more about Dr. Tay's Whole Family Approach and current services offered? visit drtaylorday.com⚡️ join the Evolve Facebook community to participate in the episode Q+As >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautism⚡️ learn from me and submit your questions [could be featured on a future episode] >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay