Most of our children at Die Sterreweg have communication difficulties. Communication is much more than just talking, it is being able to make your needs and wants known and understood, as well as participating in back and forth interaction. It is so important for building relationships and learning.
Makaton is a language programme using signs and symbols to help people to communicate. It is designed to support spoken language and the signs and symbols are used with speech. Makaton makes use of signs that don’t involve complex fine motor movements. So it is easy to learnt and always accessible once the child has learnt it. We have already seen amazing results.
Last term, with the help of our Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) students and a consulting speech therapist Louise Reed, we introduced the Makaton communication system at Die Sterreweg, to supplement our existing picture communication system. Our children and facilitators immediately took to this basic form of sign language which gives our children with communication difficulties yet another option to make their needs and wants met.
Our children have their own unique ways of expressing themselves and we aim to support this through multiple communication methods
New daily schedule in the classrooms Aphelele signing sit down Elam using our awesome new picture and makaton sign posters
