Who uses Makaton?

Generally, Makaton is used by three groups of people:

  • Children and adults with a broad range of communication needs
  • Interactors of all kinds
  • Educational and service providers

Children and adults with a broad range of communication needs

Children and adults with a broad range of communication needs often associated with learning difficulties, from those at a very early stage of communication awareness and development to others more able. This includes children and adults with communication needs arising from severe physical disability, autistic spectrum disorders and specific language disabilities.

Interactors of all kinds

Those who have frequent contact with Makaton users, such as parents, carers, other family members, friends, professionals, volunteers and support workers; and those with less frequent but significant contact, such as doctors, dentists, shopkeepers, transport drivers and escorts, advocates, sport/ leisure centre workers, to name only a few.

Educational and service providers

Educational and service providers in the public and volunteer sector who need Makaton to translate documents, programme plans, permission statements, housing agreements and any type of public or in-house information into Makaton symbols and signs to enable Makaton users to have access.