Research

In addition to providing a list of reference materials, this section is being developed to provide easier access to many difficult-to-locate and/ or out-of-print resources.

Note: Some of these articles and papers include references and terminology that was in use at the time of writing the paper, but is now out of date and does not reflect current modern language use.

Research papers

Armfield, A. (1982)
Applying psycholinguistics when planning alternative communication for persons with severe communication impairment. Unpublished manuscript available from The Makaton Charity, Manor House, 46 London Road, Blackwater, Camberley, Surrey GU17 0AA.

Birkett, E.M. (1984) [pdf file, 275kb]
A comparative study of the effects of the Makaton vocabulary and a language stimulation programme on the communication abilities of mentally handicapped adults.

Carlson, F. (1981)
A format for selecting vocabulary for the non-speaking child. Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools, 12, 240-245.

Carpenter, B. (1980)
One approach to the teaching of reading using the Makaton Vocabulary. Camberley, Surrey: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project.

Carpenter, B. (1984)
Curriculum development using the S.A.M.: A practitioner's viewpoint. Mental Handicap, Vol. 12, No. 2, 58-59.

Carpenter, B. (1987)
A formative evaluation of a Makaton-based reading scheme. Unpublished Master's Thesis, Nottingham University.

Carpenter, B., Hawley, P. Whyle, A., Evans, M, Holwill, G., Fathers, J., Howdle, G. & Finney, D. (1986)
Working with Makaton at Blythe School. Camberley, Surrey: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project.

Cornforth, A.R.T., Johnson, K.& Walker, M. (1974)
Teaching sign language to the deaf mentally handicapped. Apex, 2(1), 23-25.

Ford, J. (2006) [pdf file, 68kb] new
Enhancing Parent and Child Communication: Using Makaton Signing for Babies. A look at some of the research into the use of signing and reports on findings which have demonstrated the benefits of using Makaton signing to enhance communication between parents and their babies.

Franc S. (2000)
La communication augmentée: Principes. Un système original. Le programme Makaton.

Fristoe, M. and Lloyd, L. (1978)
A survey of the use of non-speech systems with severely communication impaired. Mental Retardation, 16, (2),99-103.

Fristoe, M. & Lloyd, L.L. (1980)
Planning an initial expressive sign lexicon for persons with severe communication impairment. Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, 45, 170-190.

Gregg, E., Vanderheiden, C., & Grilley, K. (1978)
Non-vocal communication techniques and aids for the severely physically handicapped. Baltimore, Maryland : University Park Press.

Grove, N. (1980)
Current research findings to support the use of sign language with adults and children who have intellectual and communication handicaps.

Grove, N. & McDougall, S. (1991)
Exploring sign use in two settings. Research Journal of Special Education, 18, 149-156.

Grove, N. & Walker, M. (1990)
The Makaton Vocabulary: Using manual signs and graphic symbols to develop interpersonal communication. AAC Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 6, 15-28.

Henderson, R. (1985a)
Makaton: More than sign language. Nursery World, September 5, 1985.

Henderson, R. (1985b)
Guidelines for using Makaton with pre-school children. Camberley, Surrey: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project.

Henderson, R. (1986)
Working with Makaton at Greencroft School. Camberley, Surrey: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project.

Hooper, H. & Bowler, D.M. (1991)
Peer-tutoring of manual signs by adults with mental handicaps. Mental Handicap Research, 4, 207-215.

Hooper, H. and Walker, M. (2002)
Makaton peer tutoring evaluation: 10 years on. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 30: 38–42. doi: 10.1046/j.1468-3156.2002.00120.x

Karlan, G.R. & Lloyd, L.L. (1983)
Considerations in the planning of a communication intervention: Selecting a lexicon. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 8, 13-25.

Kiernan, C. C., Reid, B. and Jones, L. (1979)
Signs and symbols - who uses what? Special Education, 6, (4), 32-34.

Kiernan, C.C., Reid,B. & Jones, L (1982)
Signs and Symbols: Use of non-vocal communication systems. Studies in Education No. 11. London University Institute of Education: Heinemann Educational.

Lahey, M. & Bloom, L. (1977)
Planning a first lexicon: Which words to teach first. Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, 42, 340-350.

Le Provost, P.A. (1983)
Using the Makaton Vocabulary in early language training with a Down's baby. Mental Handicap, Vol. 11, No. 1, 28-29.

Mein, R. & O'Connor, N. (1960)
A study of the oral vocabularies of severely subnormal patients. British Journal of Mental Subnormality, 4, 130 - 143.

Mountain, M. (1984)
Signing with the visually and mentally handicapped non-communicating child. Bulletin of the College of Speech Therapists, 383, 12.

Mountain, M. (1987)
Working with Makaton. Talking Sense, 33, 10-11.

Powell, G. (1999)
Current research findings to support the use of signs with adults and children who have intellectual and communication difficulties.

Reid, B., Jones, L., & Kiernan, C.C. (1983)
Signs and Symbols: The 1982 survey of use. Special Education: Forward Trends, 10, 27-28.

Sheehy, K. & Duffy, H. (2009) [pdf file, 354kb] new
Attitudes to Makaton in the ages of integration and inclusion. International Journal of Special Education, 24, 2.

Thomson, F. (1982)
The use of sign language and the Makaton Vocabulary with adults with acquired speech and language disorders - A review of current literature and clinical practice. Bulletin of the College of Speech Therapists, 362, 1-3.

Udwin, O. & Yule, W. (1990)
Augmentative communication systems taught to cerebral palsied children - a longitudinal study. I. The acquisition of signs and symbols, and syntactic aspects of their use over time. British Journal of Disorders of Communicaton, 25, 295-309.

Udwin, O. & Yule,W. (1991a)
Augmentative communication systems taught to cerebral palsied children - a longitudinal study. II. Pragmatic features of sign and symbol use. British Journal of Disorders of Communicaton, 26, 137-148.

Udwin, O. & Yule,W. (1991b)
Augmentative communication systems taught to cerebral palsied children - a longitudinal study. III. Teaching practices and exposure to sign and symbol use in schools and homes. British Journal of Disorders of Communicaton, 26, 149-162.

van Oosterom, J. & Devereux, K. (1982)
Rebus at Rees Thomas School. Special Education: Forward Trends, 9, (1), 22-24.

van Oosterom, J. & Devereux, K. (1985)
Learning with rebuses, Glossary. EARO, The Resource Centre, Back Hill, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4DA.

Volpato, D., Orton, D. and Blackburn, D. (1986)
[doc file, 183kb] Making Progress with Makaton. First published in Nursing Times. Results of a project to introduce the Makaton method of sign language to a group of mentally handicapped women patients were disappointing. But the project did point the way to more effective methods of sign language teaching.

Walker, M. (1973)
An experimental evaluation of the success of a system of communication for the deaf mentally handicapped. Unpublished MSc. thesis, University of London.

Walker, M. (1976a)
The Makaton Vocabulary (Revised Ed.). London: Royal Association in Aid of the Deaf and Dumb.

Walker, M. (1976b)
Manual of Language Programmes for Use with the Revised Makaton Vocabulary. Camberley, Surrey: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project.

Walker, M. (1977)
Teaching sign language to deaf mentally handicapped adults. (Institute of Mental Subnormality Conference Proceedings) Language and the Mentally Handicapped, 3, 3-25. British Institute of Mental Handicap, Wolverhampton Road, Kidderminster, Worcs., England.

Walker, M. (1978a)
The Makaton Vocabulary. In T. Tebbs (Co-ordinator) Ways and Means, Basingstoke: Globe Education on behalf of Somerset Education Authority.

Walker, M. (1978b)
Line Drawings for the Revised Makaton Vocabulary. London: Royal Association in Aid of the Deaf and Dumb.

Walker, M. (1979a)
The Makaton - in perspective. Apex, 7, (1), 12-14.

Walker, M. (1979b)
The Makaton Vocabulary Programmes 1-9. Parts I and II (Videocassette Tapes).

Walker, M. (1980a)
Line drawing illustrations for the Revised Makaton Vocabulary. Farnborough, Hants: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project.

Walker, M. (1980b)
MVDP Research Information Service, Vols. I & II. Camberley, Surrey: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project.

Walker, M. (1983a)
Makaton in the 1980s. Paper presented at Project Horizon Conference, Essex University.

Walker, M. (1983b)
The Makaton Vocabulary: A decade of research and practice. XIX Congress of the International Association of Logopaedics and Phoniatrics, Edinburgh, Scotland, August 1983.

Walker, M. (1985)
Tutors notes for a basic one day Makaton Vocabulary Workshop. Camberley, Surrey: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project.

Walker, M. (1986)
Understanding Makaton. Special Children, 1, 6, 22-23.

Walker, M. (1987)
The Makaton Vocabulary - Uses and effectiveness. Paper presented at the First International AFASIC Symposium of Specific Speech and Language Disorders in Children, University of Reading, England, 29 March - 3 April, 1987.

Walker, M. (1991)
Makaton Practice and Research in the U.K. and dissemination over the world. Presented in Tokyo, Japan, August, 1991.

Walker, M. (1993a)
The National Curriculum Series Part 1: SIGNS. Camberley, Surrey: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project.

Walker, M. (1993b)
The National Curriculum Series Part 1: SYMBOLS. Camberley, Surrey: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project.

Walker, M. (1996a)
The Makaton Core Vocabulary (1996 Revision): SIGNS. Camberley, Surrey: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project.

Walker, M. (1996b)
The Makaton Core Vocabulary (1996 Revision): SYMBOLS. Camberley, Surrey: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project.

Walker, M. & Armfield, A. (1981)
What is the Makaton Vocabulary? Special Education: Forward Trends, 8, (3), 19-20.

Walker, M. & Ferris-Taylor, R. (1998)
Parent/Carer training pack for the Makaton Core Vocabulary: Pack 1. Camberley, Surrey: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project.

Walker, M. & Mountain, M. (1987)
The use of the Makaton Vocabulary with multi-ethnic groups in the UK and overseas. Paper presented at the College of Speech Therapists Annual Conference, University of Exeter, September, 1987.

Walker, M., Parsons, F.S., Cousins, S., Henderson, R., & Carpenter, B. (1985)
Symbols for Makaton. Camberley, Surrey: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project and EARO, The Resource Centre, Back Hill, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4DA.

Walker, M. & Parratt, J. (1985)
The Makaton Resource Vocabulary. Camberley, Surrey: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project.

Walker, M. & Parratt, J. (1993)
The Makaton Resource Vocabulary. Camberley, Surrey: Makaton Vocabulary Development Project.

Williams, M. & Grove, N. (1989)
Getting to grips with aided communication: An overview of the literature. British Journal of Special Education, 16, 63-68.

Wilson, K.D. (1980)
Selection of a core lexicon for use with graphic communication systems. Journal of Childhood Communication Disorders, 4, 111-123.