I've posted a lot about how sign language should be taught along side English in school, but I also believe we should begin learning sign language as early as possible.
There are also other forms of communication, such as the language used by Deaf/Blind folks (which can be more like sign language in the palm of your hand), which is accessible to more people, including those with mobility issues.
While not everyone will be able to learn and/or sign (I personally cannot very well due to muscle weakness and inability to move my hands), those who can learn but can't sign would still be able to understand what others are saying.
Why, when we have bodies as well as vocal cords, do we value oral communication over all forms of communication? We as humans have always used some form of sign language to communicate in various ways.
There are times in our life when we don't have the ability to speak for a variety of reasons (illness, disability, accident, selective mutism, etc.) and knowing how to sign could highly benefit us during these times.
