Jodie McCaffrey - Raleigh, North Carolina
Jodie McCaffrey is a native of Southern California, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree from California State University in Child Development. It was in college where she was first introduced to American Sign Language. Within the first couple weeks of her first class, her instructor had sparked a passion for ASL that is still going strong.
Jodie’s husband Joe was born in Berks County, PA and they relocated back to the area in 2005. Jodie worked as an Operations Manager & Project Manager in until becoming a mother in August 2008. She has been signing to her daughter Abigail (and teaching her husband) since Abigail was about 5 or 6 months old. Abigail signed her first word, “eat” about 2 weeks after her 1st birthday. It seems as though making the sign for “eat” and Jodie responding by giving her food has inspired Abigail to use signs more to get the results that she wants – later that first day she signed “more.” :) Since then, Abigail’s signing vocabulary has continued to increase exponentially and she seems excited when Jodie shows her new signs. Jodie has noticed that Abigail will typically attempt the new sign after only seeing it 3 or 4 times over the course of 1-2 days. Abigail now communicates effectively when she is hungry or thirsty, wants more or is finished, is sleepy, wants a toy, and when her mouth hurts (teething) and needs medicine–and this has dramatically enhanced their lives and decrease the age old struggle of “what does she want”.
While out on errands, Jodie has always noticed other pre-verbal children, who do not sign, become frustrated because their parents don’t understand their grunts and cries. Tantrums are always inevitable. Abigail is also catching the attention of those around her. Her ability to convey her wants and needs without screaming, crying, tantrums, whining, or frustration often initiates whispers and then comments from strangers. The typical response is, “she is so well-behaved” and “she is just so happy.” Jodie often shares her experiences and explains that by teaching ASL, you can arm a pre-verbal child with the tools necessary to communicate. Once this is possible, daily activities become rewarding and exciting for both parent and child.
Read more about Jodie here in this interesting newspaper article!
If you are interested in learning ASL, and facilitating communication with the pre-verbal child in your life, visit the My Smart Hands Raleigh website at www.MySmartHands-Raleigh.com for more information and class schedules.
Or contact Jodie by e-mail: jodie@mysmarthands.com or phone at 610-858-6233
For more info e-mail: jodie@mysmarthands.com or download our class inquiry form to be placed on a mailing list for upcoming classes. Remember to email the form back to Jodie completed.
