What it's like to be a Makaton tutor: Helping people to connect with each other and the world
Being able to communicate is one of the most important skills we need in life - but it’s also one many of us can take for granted.
Sarah Case is passionate about raising awareness of Makaton – a language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to help users connect with other people and the world around them.
She discovered Makaton after her son Alfie, who has Down's syndrome, was born in 2014 and now she shares her knowledge with others as a trained Makaton tutor.
“I started to learn Makaton when Alfie was a baby. Alfie had a severe speech and language delay and I had done a lot of research into language programmes,” says Sarah, who lives in Telford. “I started with Makaton Signing for Babies and then progressed onto Mr Tumble, Dave Benson Phillips and the Singing Hands.”
Makaton was first created in the 1970s by speech and language therapist Margaret Walker.
Although the signs are based on the gestures used in British Sign Language (BSL), there are differences between the two.
“BSL is a language in its own right for the deaf community and Makaton is a language programme using signs and symbols.
“Whenever we are signing, we are talking and when we use symbols, we have text with them. It’s not just for children with additional needs, it’s used by adults, anyone who has difficulties with speech and communication,” explains Sarah.
More than 100,000 children and adults use Makaton symbols and signs. Most people start 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.
The language programme comprises two vocabularies – a core vocabulary of essential words or concepts presented in stages of increasing complexity and a much larger, open-ended, topic-based resource vocabulary covering broader life experiences.
