GM.

Love the ASL.  I used it with both of my kids when they were little, especially my son with Down Syndrome.  He had issues speaking and sign language allowed him to share his needs and prevent a lot of melt downs.

My eldest took ASL as his "foreign language".  When he was having his braces put on, we had a conversation even though he couldn't move his mouth.  It was slow going because when I didn't remember the actual sign, he would spell it, but I am slow, translating letter signs to letters, then picturing it in my mind, so I can read it and know what he signed.