Can any recommend a Sign language book for Special Needs

[Thing3WasKissingSanta]

DD1 really wants to learn sign language and has asked me for a book. I have had a look on Amazon but not sure which would be most suitable. Does anybody know of any good ones?

Thanks.

Hi :)

I can put you in touch with someone who can help. They are not for sale on Amazon any more, but I've seen his books and they are very good, he may have one at home.

I would go straight to the Makaton website (Makaton is the name of the sign language) - www.makaton.org and go to their shop.

Sorry, Sam, but it's not the same. Makaton is signs using hands to indicate items/people (like a cup of tea, or a nurse), sign language is an actual language, so more complicated. Makaton is used for people with a variety of SN, not just those who are deaf, as it's easier to understand.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/1038588-Are-the-signs-for-BSL-and-Makaton-completely-different/AllOnOnePage

Sorry, I thought the OP was asking for "a sign language for special needs" rather than BSL

Ah, sorry, my fault.

Thank you both for your replies. DD1 has a friend in her class with special needs and she would like to be able to talk to him using sign language.

I will have a look at the Makaton website tomorriow.

The other thing to do is campaign for your school to teach makaton. EVERYONE in my dc's school learns to sign (is a mainsteam state school with one or two SN children per class). They have a signer of the week award, one for adults and one for children, which is highly sought over. It not only helps with communication for those who have SN, but also learning another language (though I think technically not a language, whereas BSL is); helps set up neurological pathways for future language learning. The children also love it. DD1 loves finding out a new sign and teaching the headmaster at the gate in the morning. Chinese new year of the dragon was one of her highlights (helps that dh knows some BSL, so we just send her in with that).

See if you can persuade them to register for 'sign to sing', it is an annual fundraising event - think is in Feb, where they learn 2-3 songs with signs and sing in a record breaking attempt. Also see if she will watch Something Special, or associated spin offs. Usually on iplayer. They do Makaton on there. Your dd sounds like a lovely friend.

Everyone learns to sign in dd's mainstream primary too. I would have hoped that schools that had children whose primary form of communication was signing ensured that all children and staff had enough knowledge of signing with which to communicate with the children using it.

Forgot to add there are clips on you tube to teach yourself some signing. I think videos are easier than books tbh.

DD2 is in reception and has been learning sign language (book, hippo that kind of thing) but DD1 has only been there since year 3 so might have missed it.

She really loves him and thinks of him as one of her best friends.

Thank you I will get her to look at episodes of something special on the laptop.

Do talk to the school still, my dd is. In yr3 and they still use Makaton in class, even though none of the children in the class are entirely reliant on it now. They maybe able to help her with it, or maybe their eye has slipped off the ball a bit. If signing is this boy's main form of communication then they should still be encouraging the class to use it.

DD1 can talk to him but from what she has said he either uses sign language or his iPad to communicate.

I will speak to the school on Monday to see what they suggest. Thank you.

Do ask them what sign language he uses. He may use makaton, but he may use BSL. Round here they use another SN langauge called sign along, different to makaton from what I understand. Anyway point is ask what HE uses.

Good point steppemum in BSL there are northern and southern dialects, so the signs can be quite different. I really think that the school should be more proactive in helping them to communicate. You could also talk to the boy's mother.

Hopefully he will be coming to DDs birthday so I will ask his mum then. As she is interested I think it is something that would be good to encourage.

Thank you for your replies.