The purpose of the study was to assist in developing a system of communication for six multiply handicapped hearing impaired children (2 1/2 to 5 years old). The Natural Gesture language system was employed to initiate communication between educator and child. The educational intervention consisted of daily 1/2-hour language lessons incorporating action-bound gestures. All six of the children responded to the gestures and initiated some of the language expressively; some incorporated vocalization in conjunction with the gestures; and those children with physical involvements adapted and modified the gestures, which proved to be recognizable and valid. (SBH)