MAKATON LEARNING
I recently attended a Makaton workshop in my area. I am familiar with Makaton as I have virtually grown up with it. But it only in recent years through my church and using when I was undertaking a child care course, that I used it. Sadly I've gone a bit rusty so the course was as a refresher. And actually there were signs and that were new to me. Please feel free to leave a comment or suggestions below in the comments. I have tried to use the information in this blog to the best of my knowledge, any helpful comments will help how I research and create future blogs.
Makaton was first developed by a speech therapist named Margaret Walker in the 1970s. It was named using a few letters from the names of the first three Makaton teachers: Margaret Walker (MA), Katherine Johnston (KA) and Tony Cornforth (TON). Margaret Walker, founder won the Pride of Britain, Special Recognition Award , in 2019 for her dedication to and creation of Makaton. Today over 100,000 children and adults use Makaton signs, either as their main form of communication or as a way to assist them in their speech and language.
Today many edcational settings, health professionals Makaton to aid communication. Yet it is still to unknown and this why the Makaton Charity is vital in educating society, that whatever our communication we can become a better more inclusive society. Absolutely no one should be marginalised for his or her communication difficulties.
Many people confuse Makaton and BSL/ASL as the same thing. Yes they both aid our speech and language but BSL/ASL is the tool used for those who have hearing difficulties and uses no speech. Makaton uses both speech, symbols and signs. Makaton as I said aids communication to those with disabilities, early years education and more increasingly helping those who have come over to our country from over seas.
Today many edcational settings, health professionals Makaton to aid communication. Yet it is still to unknown and this why the Makaton Charity is vital in educating society, that whatever our communication we can become a better more inclusive society. Absolutely no one should be marginalised for his or her communication difficulties.
Many people confuse Makaton and BSL/ASL as the same thing. Yes they both aid our speech and language but BSL/ASL is the tool used for those who have hearing difficulties and uses no speech. Makaton uses both speech, symbols and signs. Makaton as I said aids communication to those with disabilities, early years education and more increasingly helping those who have come over to our country from over seas.
On the Sunday after the training day, I put or tried to put what I had learned into practice during the worship at my church. Man it was a challenge and I quickly realised the complex words worship song often use. So I asked the Holy Spirit to guide me (after all it was Pentecost Sunday) and worship God with the voice and signs I was given.
I'm grateful for the Makaton Charity, Count Everyone In and even my own church for allowing me to use and learn such a valuable communication tool. I so wish know to learn and use it more to reach out to my community. Also my prayer is that more church access and use Makaton in their services.
Thanks for taking time out to listen again to my ramblings.
I'm grateful for the Makaton Charity, Count Everyone In and even my own church for allowing me to use and learn such a valuable communication tool. I so wish know to learn and use it more to reach out to my community. Also my prayer is that more church access and use Makaton in their services.
Thanks for taking time out to listen again to my ramblings.
God bless
Midlife Writer
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