Page 3 - Makaton2

Contents

Chapter 1
Chapter 1 Introduction
Introduction
About Makaton
What is Makaton About Makaton
Who uses Makaton
How to use Makaton Today over 100,000 children and adults use Makaton symbols and signs, either as
their main method of communication or as a way to support speech.

In addition to children and adults with communication and learning difficulties and the
Chapter 2 community around them – for example, teachers, health professionals, friends,
Everyday words public service bodies etc. Makaton is increasingly used by the general public to aid
communication.

Makaton has been shown to be useful for all sorts of people including those who
Chapter 3 struggle with understanding concepts, those who have poor literacy skills, including
Feelings grammatical knowledge, and those with English as an Additional Language. By using
Makaton, children and adults can take a more active part in life, because
communication and language are the key to everything we do and learn.

Chapter 4
Food

Chapter 5 What is Makaton
Nursing
Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to
enable people to communicate. It supports the development of essential
communication skills such as attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall
Chapter 6 and organisation of language and expression.
Poster
Being able to communicate is one of the most important skills we need in life. Almost
everything we do involves communication; everyday tasks such as learning at
school, asking for food and drink, sorting out problems, making friends and having
Summary fun. These all rely on our ability to communicate with each other.

With Makaton, signs are used, with speech, in spoken word order. This helps provide
extra clues about what someone is saying. Using signs can help people who have no
Acknowledgements speech or whose speech is unclear. Using symbols can help people who have
limited speech and those who cannot, or prefer not to sign.

For those who have experienced the frustration of being unable to communicate
meaningfully or effectively, Makaton really can help. Makaton takes away that
frustration and enables individuals to connect with other people and the world around
them. This opens up all kinds of possibilities.

In the following video from CBeebies, parents of children who use Makaton explain
how it has helped them communicate. And Makaton Tutor Kate Duggan explains
how Makaton is beneficial for children (and adults) of all ages and abilities.