To answer questions etc...
Thank you all for your replies, I am going to attempt to answer the questions you asked...if I miss one I am sorry and will go back after I send this in to see if I did...if not then I will post another LOL (Don't want to leave out anything).
Ok, my daughter is not deaf, she has severe speech problems, myself and only few other people can understand her, and that is only because we are use to her speech. She has learned some digning in school, very limited, just a few colors, but I tried for several months and up til current day to get her to remember her colors, shapes, etc. She cannot or will not remember them, but the colors she learned the sign for, she remembers them perfectly, no problem. So I thaught maybe if that is what it will take for her to learn, then I am going to do it. She is 5 years old. She is VERY smart, it is just trying to figure out a way for her to "get it out" of her mind, so that others can understand her. I like the teachers she has and for their efforts with her, but I feel they should be teaching her more signing since she has shown more improvement with that. So, I am going to try it at home, since they are not doing there as much as I feel they should. I am a firm believer, if you find a way for a child to learn, go with it, even if it is a little unethical. So that is my reason for wanting to teach her signing.
Now, I do know very limited signing, I use to have a friend in church when I was a kid who was deaf, I was the only one in the class who learned the alphabet to communicate with him, I do remember the alphabet, after brushing up on it recently I know it again with no problems, until then there were just a couple of letters I had forgotten, but I know them now. I have learned one sentence "Help me, please" Other than that, I know the 4 colors my daughter knows, I have learned a couple of I guess they would be called rough signing from when I worked with the mentallly/physically handicapped for two years and a few of my individuals I cared for had very limited rough signing, I am not sure if they are actual signs, but I know what they meant by it. I actually learn things VERY easily, especially if it is for my kids, I am always up for a challenge, and if this is what it takes, I will rise to it, I want the best for my daughter and will do anything for her to be able to communicate with me and those she needs to.
She may out grow her speech problem, but she shows faster and more immediate results from the signing she knows. So to me that is more important to get her to atleast be considered up to her age level requirements, and the main reason why she is not is because she does not vocalize when they want her to. Like I said she is very bright, I work with her at home, if she does not have to pronounce anything and is able to just point things out etc. she gets it right everytime, but when she has to put it to words, then she struggles, and they expect her to do that. When she uses her signs for her colors, she also says the word, and she can show you what color she is speaking of.
Right now, I am VERY limited on money, I was mainly looking to see if there were some sights to get me started for now, that were free, I am on a very tight budget, in the next month or so I will be caught up, god willing, and will be able to get the DVDs and the books I have seen that would be great for her. But for now I am in a bind and even if there was limited information online, it is better than nothing, and will give me a stepping stone until I can get the items I need at home.
I have never heard of the deaf diners you have also mentioned, I would not even know where one is around here. I live in central Illinois, about 30 miles south of Springfield, I work in Springfield, IL and in Taylorville, IL. I will try the ones mentioned here and if anyone can find anything else I greatly appreciate all the help you can offer. And I sincerely appreciate you all taking your time to reply to this and helping me.
I hope i answered all the questions..oh and by the way, I am not deaf myself, although I have been told if I don't change my ways I will be LOL I am just a mom trying to do all she can for her child. And if it gives her more culture in her life, GREAT
even if she grows out of her speech issues, I hope she will still use the signing in her life, I actually think it is a beautiful way of communicating myself. But that is just me. Have a great day!!!
((((((hugs to you all for your help))))
as much as I want to. I would greatly appreciate any help with this. Thank you. Have a great day!! 
