"Hands Can Talk" is all about sign language.
Helping everyday Australian families and carers enhance communication by learning sign language.

Coming shortly!!!!!!

We are redoing our website. It will be even better than now! YES we also sell a number of AUSTRALIAN (AUSLAN based) resources 'WHOLESALE'.

Available now:

• Resources through 'Order Form' or call 02 9824 8332 and place order by phone (Credit Card facilities are available by phone only).
• Sign On Line - 15 signs shown to help you get started.
• Information on 'Baby Sign'; Host a workshop and find out all about 'Baby Sign', get some helpful handouts and learn over 60 Auslan signs.
• Information about all the different workshops available. Book your own or join one already organised.
• Links to other websites.
• The difference between using Auslan or Natural gesture.
• Makaton Basic Workshop information. (Both Aileen and Lisa are Makaton Presenters)
• Aileen & Lisa have both studied Auslan.
• Aileen is the author of 'Key Sign' a supplement to the Makaton Vocabulary Book; 'Sing & Sign With Me' Book; 'Tiny Hands' Baby to Toddler Sign Language Book & 'Instant Reference Chart' and ' Australian Alphabet Chart'. Graphic illustrations by Aileen for Makatons ' Lets Play With Sign' and two new resources soon available through Melbourne Makaton.
• There are more resources than listed on the web site - they have been added to the new website - call for more information. Brilliant new resources to help children learn signs using beautiful graphics from 'Prompt Education' together with sign language graphics drawn by Aileen.

'Hands Can Talk' bright, modern, easy to navigate new website is adding:

• 'Sign On Line ' bigger and better and signs will change every month.
• Shopping Cart facilities. Visuals of all resources, great discriptions and links to other websites for resources we recommend but dont carry.
• Even more resources.
• Testimonials from parents, carers and professionals.
• Links to websites specifically related to Australian Businesses involved with Special Needs; Deaf and Early Intervention
• Services that have trained and continued to update their training with 'Hands Can Talk'.
• NEWS HEADLINE "Deafness resources is coming back as THE AUSLAN SHOP and will have all manner of resources used and needed in Australia".
• Up todate articles on Baby sign; using Sign Language as a Literacy program, Augmentative & Alternative Communication and much more.
• Up todate information on current workshops.

Yes thats AILEEN & some of the CAST on the set of the film:

THE BLACK BALLOON http://theblack-balloonmovie.com

January 2007 Aileen was contacted by producer Tristram Miall in reference to assisting the cast with sign language to be used in the movie 'The Black Balloon'. At the time Aileen was on holidays and not being truely in the mood for work thought Tristiam was involed as a student producing a small student movie but was pleased to be able to help out. After getting off the phone Aileen mentioned what was happening and said Tristiam had mentioned an actress - ummm Toni ??? yes that right Toni Collette. Now everyone was getting excited - Aileen looked up Toni Collette - talked to friends and family who of course had seen her in quite a few movies and thought she was fabulous. Aileen watched some of Toni's movies and could see what all the hype was about -Toni was great at what she did.

First meeting - Aileen went to Holsworthy to the house being used for the movie and met Tristram (producer) Elissa (Screenwritter & Director) Toni (the mum), Erik (the dad), Rhys (the brother) & Luke (Charlie "the brother with autism"). Aileen's comments at the time were: "it was fun meeting everyone" "relaxed and casual and they all picked up the sign language easily" " We used bits of Makaton, Auslan and Signed English" as the books available at the time the movie was set were only the Signed English and early Makaton Book (which used the signed english signs available). A few times signs were used that are more readily available now thru Auslan.

Second meeting - Aileen again met up on set and practiced with the cast. Having parts of the sript to work from made it easier to plan and try to keep everything looking natural and not overdone. Aileen was then filmed doing the signs to help everyone with revision and Gemma (girlfriend of Rhys's character) was able to to do all her practice thru the video clips.

Third meeting - Aileen went back and took Elysha with her to meet Rhys (Luke from her favorite show "Home & Away") . Elysha was wrapped -of course only interested in LUKE!! - had photos with him, saw him on set and sat and had lunch with LUKE .

It was hard not to talk about the movie to all around her but finally the movie is being released and you can read reviews from those who have already seen the movie, look at a trailer, read short pieces on the the cast and interviews.

Aileen said she did not want to be paid for her involvement in the film and fitted in with cast and crew time frame. Aileen got involved simply because someone asked her to and the thought of a film being made and sign language being included (therefore improving and increasing peoples understanding of the use of sign language for people with speech and/or developmental delay) was all the incentive Aileen needed.

. Go see the film - its brilliant - Elissa Down should feel fantastic - what a tribute to her life growing up with two autistic brothers. Every actor in the movie gave their utmost and shone thru.

"Easily one of the finest Australian films of recent years. A story that's funny, heart-breaking and packed with dramatic energy." Lynden Barber LIMELIGHT

Now for a bit of background on Hands Can Talk

"Hands Can Talk" was established in 1995 and came about as a result of Aileen meeting so many parents and professionals who needed to learn basic sign language to help them communicate with children and adults who had speech and/or developmental delay.

Having gone in to teach the preschool staff where her daughter, Elysha, was going, how to sign, life became much easier for Elysha and the staff at the centre. Aileen also found that demand increased for her teaching style which was both relaxed and effective. Because of the need for small amounts of sign language rather than studying for years Aileen's business has grown to include many different types of workshops.

Aileen became involved with Makaton Australia by training to become a Makaton Presenter and being involved on the Makaton Resource Committee with the aim towards increasing awareness of this great way of communicating.

By raising awareness children like Elysha, have a much better chance of being accepted in the general community. One of the great things that Aileen has discovered is that people everywhere love to watch and understand more about sign language so her classes often have people coming along who just want to learn a little and understand more. By using sign language in the general community people are making it possible for children/adults with speech and/or developmental delay to communicate and feel part of the wider community.

In 2000 parents both here and overseas started to take an interest in using a gesture or sign system to get babies "talking" to get their needs and wants across. Aileen had used sign language with both her twins so successfully that she decided to start teaching Baby to Toddler Sign Language Workshops in 2002. Demand has increased rapidly with parents enjoying the benefits of sign language used together with spoken language.

Aileen has also been producing and working with other organisations to produce resources that are relevant to Australians.

"Hands Can Talk" focuses mainly on children and signing.

• Workshops cover a select amount of sign language, each workshop tailored to meet specific areas.
  
• Simple, everyday, EASY TO LEARN signs for everyday Australians.
  
• Talks about the Special Needs areas.
  
• Teaches Baby to Toddler signing, the why's and how's.
  
• Uses Auslan sign language with the Key Sign concept. (Which basically means using the sign language of the deaf community but always with voice and only signing the most relevant words.)