Makaton is a way to help people communicated and be understood.
Makaton used signs, symbols and talking to help people with communication difficulties.
What is Makaton?
Makaton is the UK's leading programme for adults and children with learning or communication difficulties. It is a communication programme that combines signs, symbols and speech to give different options for people to communicate.
Using signs can help people who do not use speech. Symbols can help people who have limited speech, or who cannot or prefer not to sign.
Makaton transforms the lives of people with communication difficulties, by giving them a way to express themselves independently. Being able to communicate eases frustration and gives people confidence and
independence
Independence means doing things on your own. Making your own choices.
while they develop communication and language skills.
More about Makaton
With Makaton, children and adults can communicate straight away using the signs and symbols. Many people then stop using the signs or symbols naturally at their own pace, as they develop speech.
Watch the video, created by The Makaton Charity to find out more.
Who uses Makaton?
There are currently over 1 million Makaton users. Makaton can help anyone who has difficulties with:
- communicating what they want, think or how they feel
- making themselves understood
- paying attention
- listening to and understanding speech
- remembering and sequencing.
It is also used by supporters of people with a learning disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. , such as family, friends, carers, education Education is when you learn things. When you fill in a form to get a job, education means you write where you went to school, college or university. staff and health professionals.
Where is Makaton used?
Makaton is also regularly used in schools, to support all children to develop communication, language and literacy skills. It supports integration as children with and without language difficulties can communicate, learn and play together more easily.
Makaton symbols are also widely used in public buildings such as hospitals, courts and libraries to help people find their way around. So you may be using Makaton in your daily life without even know it!
The BBC's award-winning Something Special children's television features Mr Tumble and friends, played by Justin Fletcher. They use Makaton symbols and signs to support speech throughout each programme. The programmes use a simple, repetitive format, making it easy to learn the Makaton symbols and signs used in each episode. Everyone is encouraged to join in using songs and games.
Top tips for signing
- Use the signs whenever you talk about the action e.g. eating and drinking.
- Always say the word while making the sign.
- Try to make eye contact and use facial expression.
- Use clear, short sentences.
- You can guide an individual's hand to help them sign.
- Encourage attempts at signing; use the sign for 'good' and say 'well done'.
- Encourage friends and relatives to use the signs too.
Want to learn Makaton?
Many people learn Makaton by attending a Makaton workshop. You can search for workshops happening in your area on the Makaton charity website.
If you'd prefer to learn at your own pace then the Makaton charity also offer a membership that gives you digital access to the Makaton library of symbols, signs, videos and activities. Find out more about their membership options.
The Makaton Charity
This webpage was developed with support from The Makaton Charity.
The Makaton Charity exists to make sure that everyone living with learning or communication difficulties has the tools and resources they need to understand, and be understood through:
- providing training to parents, carers and professionals each year
- developing and producing a wide range of printed and electronic resources
- working with others to make information
accessible
Accessible means something is easy for people to use or join in with. For example: Accessible writing means the writing is easy to read and understand.
using Makaton symbols - offering advice and support to families and professionals
- working in partnership with organisations Organisations are groups like companies and businesses. such as the BBC.
The charity curates and promotes the Makaton communication programme, trains and supports the Licensed Makaton Tutor network, and provides tools to enhance the learning and usage of Makaton.
You can contact The Makaton Charity directly at [email protected] or follow them on Instagram @Makaton or Facebook.com/TheMakatonCharity
Amy Clarke
Questions and answers about Makaton
Makaton is a communication tool that uses symbols (pictures), signs (gestures) and speech so people can communicate.
It helps develop essential communication skills like: attention and listening, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression.
Most people start using Makaton as children then naturally stop using the signs and symbols as they no longer need them. However, some people will need to use Makaton for their whole lives.
Makaton uses speech with signs (gestures) and symbols (pictures). As well as using facial expressions, eye contact and body language to give as much information as possible.
With Makaton, signs are used with speech in spoken word order. Using signs can help people who have no speech or whose speech is unclear.
Dive in and have fun!
Start by using signs and symbols as much and as often as you can. Always speak as you sign or use symbols.
It's important to only use a few signs and symbols at the beginning. These will be the most important ones for the child or adult with communication difficulties. They will be chosen by the people who know the child or adult best. As they learn, more words will need to be introduced.
Attending a Makaton workshop is the best way to learn Makaton. You'll learn with other people, share experiences, receive feedback on your signing and practice with others. It also means that you will be in touch with a Makaton tutor who will be able to support you.
If you can't attend Makaton training, there are learning packs designed for parents to use at home. They are available to purchase or can often be borrowed through your local library service A service gives people what they need, like healthcare services that help people when they are ill, and support services that give people support. .
Yes. Makaton is to help hearing people with learning or communication difficulties. It uses signs and symbols, with speech, in spoken word order. British Sign Language (BSL) is the language of the deaf community A community is the people and places in an area. in the UK. It is a naturally evolving language, with its own grammar, word order and has regional variations.
Makaton sign advisors select signs that look like a word and are easy to make. When a sign is selected to be used with Makaton, this becomes the sign that is used across the whole country. This means that if a Makaton user needs to move to another school or town, the signs used there will be the same as they use in their current location.