Interested in learning

Nina Allen, aged five, has Down's syndrome and attends a mainstream school. Her mother, Jacky Eva, first heard about Makaton from a Portage worker at a child development centre in Dewsbury Hospital.

Jacky explains how using Makaton has transformed their lives:

"We started using Makaton with Nina when she was six months old: although she didn't sign back, we continued to use it. Eventually, aged two and a half, she did sign back. As her speech did not appear until she was three and a half, Makaton enabled us to communicate without the frustrations seen in many children who do not sign.

"Speech therapists at the hospital ran a course, and we had the Dave Benson Philips Nursery Rhyme video. Once you got over the feeling of being silly, it was easy. The resources were great but have improved since we first learnt: we often watch Something Special, which is excellent. And when I need signs we can't find, I talk with the speech therapy department, who are more than willing to help.

"Nina now speaks beautifully, with clear diction, and only uses the signs when a new word or concept is introduced, when people don't understand her, or because someone signs to her. But she always uses it alongside speech, not instead of, which many people fear. She is currently learning written signs to help with her writing. Her school has taken Makaton completely on board: all the teaching staff sign, and even the dinner ladies have gone on a training course.

"At home, both her parents use signs, and her grandparents use a few signs.

"Many people think that using Makaton will delay speech because the child will become lazy. Nina speaks really well and far from making her lazy it has made her interested in learning - and included her in parts of the curriculum that would not normally be considered appropriate. For instance, she is learning French because she understands Makaton. Her school uses both French and Makaton together, and as a result she is keeping up with her mainstream peers.

"As a result of using Makaton, Nina has never become frustrated nor had any serious behavioural problems."

February 2006