[blindkid] how do you teach a child to say yes?

[Barbara Hammel]

Our semiverbal twin has “no thank you please” down pat.  He uses it very appropriately but if he wants the thing we’re asking him about he’ll just repeat the name of the thing.
I’m just wondering if anyone has ideas about how to choose between yes and no.  For example “do you want a beef stick?”  The inferred choices are yes and no but he doesn’t know what to do with that kind of question.  So far, I’ve asked if he wants something and if he repeats it, I tell him we’re going to try again and I want you to say yes.  I repeat the question and say the y sound to prompt him before he has a chance to think of copying the requested item’s name.
I forgot the name of those books that nonverbal people use that has all the pictures of things and if you choose say the hurt picture, you’d turn to the correct page to point out a body part.  He needs to know how to say yes or no to be able to do the book with his teachers.
Would you say I’m on the right track, or do you have other tips for teaching this skill?
Barbara

Let every nation know whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.--John F. Kennedy