Makaton Signing

[EvesMama]

i have another thread on C.M board.
i getting reg to become a childminder but want to extend my capability so i can care for children with S.N.
now im down for courses to deal with behaviour, specialist feeding etc, but i want to learn signing.
initially i though BSL was enough, but im told Makaton is the best.
Now heres where im on the tap..does anyone have any sheets on this signing they could send/email me so i could get started while waiting to do course/buy discs??
id really appreciate any help at all.
am bidding on some on ebay at minute, but i trust mumsnet 100% and i know i wont get a page of twadle fro here.

Thanks All
xx

the other thing I like about makaton is that is is logical - looks like that action - eg drink or eat.

I didn't know they had changed the toilet sign either. It was always the easiest to remember
Evesmama, it really does depend on the sn, we have Makaton at units where the main need is learning/asd and Paget Gorman at units where the main need is speech & langauge disorder.

If you want to care for children with ASDs I'd look into PECS as well. Signing sometimes doesn't work with that group in particular (and a lot of special schools/nurseries will use PECS as a first choice with these children).

DS1 goes to a childminder who takes children with SN. She is PECS trained and knows Makaton. She has autistic children coming out of her ears (Hugely in demand). Do be aware though that your house may suffer more wear and tear. I know ds1 has broken her washing machine, and painted on her walls. I assume the other children with SN have wreaked their own havoc!

oh check out the cbeebies website for the something special section- video of Makaton sings on there.

Hee hee, well I still use the old toilet sign, too old to change now!
Good advice to check with local special schools which system they use and go with the most widespread locally. However, if you are likely to get many children with ASD my experience is that their vocab in signing never becomes huge (imo due to their communication disorder and lack of interest in communicating, not any issue with the signing system) so don't just choose the one with the most vocab if that's the case. Also very good advice to learn PECs and visual strategies, especially timetables. You might also want to invest in a timer or some sort to give tangible countdowns.

wow so much advice since i alst turned puter on!..firstly thankyou.secondly whats PECS?

i think ill speak to our library about videos/books and look for SN schools incase they offer some sort of advice like someone said!..wow..your all fab, thankyou so much for you advice and encouragment onthis

PECS Their workshops are excellent, but quite pricey, would be worth enquiring whether there are any locally run courses being held (again ask special schools), you never know you might be able to sit in on some in service training or something. Would also be worth talking to social services by the way. I use direct payments money to pay my childminder, so they may be able to direct people towards you.

thankyou for that, i will check out library first for that too..dya think thats something theyd carry???

There's a PECS video, but I doubt they'd have it, someone may do in the SALT service or a special school.

thanks JimJams2..ill have to look them up.
there is a school..oooh oh, just realised thinking of SN school, my friend works in one although its not called a SN school, shes described it as school for boys with problems/difficulties (ie i think been in trouble because of their behavior??)..so dont know if that would count, but think ill email her see if she can get hold of anything!..thank for the reminder!

yeah, a whole new form of signing

and yes, she says once you get through to them theyre(some of them) lovely lads, just messed up by early life probs.

got the ebay sheets throuhg this morning..just drawings on apaer indictng directions if needed, but most easy to pick up..trying them with dd (3) and shes picking them up straight away!
plus got call for inspection, a week thur so will make sure these are displayed