Tuesday 23 September marks International Day of Sign Languages, highlighting the importance of alternative communication, especially for those with complex disabilities. Watch the video below where we practised some of our signs at Seashell Central.
To learn more about the importance of signing at Seashell, our Speech and Language Therapy team have put together some useful information on how this is used to support the children and young adults at Seashell.
Why do disabled children and young adults use sign language?
Many children and young adults at Seashell use signs to communicate, including both speaking and non-speaking individuals. Using signs can support understanding, attention, language development, social interaction, confidence, and participation for a wide range of children and young adults with communication needs.
Using signs can also:
- Support understanding of spoken language
- Provide a visual cue for spoken words
- Support processing information
- Reinforce key concepts and vocabulary
- Support memory and recall
- Offer an alternative method of communication for non-speaking people and reduces frustration
- Assist those who may have unclear speech to be understood
- Make communication engaging and interactive
- Facilitate a shared focus
- Increase participation in activities and routines
What is the difference between Makaton and British Sign Language?
Across Seashell, the children, young adults and colleagues use a range of signing systems, including Makaton and British Sign Language. Individuals may also use their own personalised signs that hold unique or specific meaning for them.
Makaton is a communication support programme that uses signs alongside spoken language and uses English word order. British Sign Language on the other hand is a complete language, with its own grammar and sentence structure, used primarily by the Deaf community.
Some children and young adults at Seashell use a hand-under-hand approach to signing. This enables individuals to experience signs through touch and supports the development of communication skills for those with multi-sensory impairments, while also promoting engagement, understanding and shared interaction. Each approach is tailored to the individual to best support them to communicate their needs, goals and aspirations.
How can you support individuals with complex needs to use signs?
When using signs, it’s important to follow these key principles:
- Speak and sign together
This supports students to process spoken word and understand key information. This may not be needed for those who are Deaf.
- Sign key words
With Makaton it is not necessary to sign every word. Instead, we focus on the key words that carry the most information.
- Model without pressure
The children and young adults do not need to copy signs in response. Instead, we provide good models for individuals to follow but without pressure to respond correctly. Communication should never become a test.
- Use signs consistently
Individuals learn signs through repeated exposure, and so it’s important to use signs around the individual across all environments and activities.
How do you communicate with someone who is Deaf?
Some of our colleagues also have hearing loss, and so these principles apply to our communication across Seashell as well as with the children and young adults we support.
- Face the individual when speaking so they can clearly read your lips and see the signs
- Avoid standing in front of a window which may create a shadow
- Speak at the volume you naturally would unless you have been asked to speak louder
- You can gain the individual’s attention with a gentle tap on the shoulder before communicating
Did you know that Seashell used to be a school for the deaf? You can read more about our history here.
Further resources:
What is British Sign Language? | Seashell
Inclusive learning techniques | Seashell
Identify & support speech, language & communication needs
How to communicate with someone with autism? | Seashell
