Makaton

Makaton is a communication tool with speech, signs, and symbols to enable people with disabilities or learning disabilities to communicate. Makaton supports the development of essential communication skills such as attention, listening, comprehension, memory and expressive speech and language.[1][2] The Makaton language programme has been used with individuals who have cognitive impairments, autism, Down syndrome, specific language impairment, multisensory impairment and acquired neurological disorders that have negatively affected the ability to communicate, including stroke and dementia patients.[1][3]

The name "Makaton" is derived from the names of three members of the original teaching team at Botleys Park Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey: Margaret Walker (the designer of the programme and speech therapist at Botleys Park), Katherine Johnston and Tony Cornforth (psychiatric hospital visitors from the Royal Association for Deaf People).[4]

Makaton is a registered trademark of the Makaton Charity, which was established in 2007[5] to replace the original charitable trust, the Makaton Vocabulary Development Project, established in 1983. The original trademark application for Makaton was filed in Britain on 28 August 1979, with registration approved as from that date under trademark registration no. 1119745.[6]

In 2004 the Oxford University Press included Makaton as a common usage word in the Oxford English Dictionary. The entry states: "Makaton, n. Brit. A proprietary name for: a language programme integrating speech, manual signs, and graphic symbols, developed to help people for whom communication is very difficult, esp. those with learning disabilities."[7][citation needed]

  1. ^ a b Beukelman, David R.; Mirenda, Pat (2005). "Symbols and rate enhancement". Augmentative alternative communication: supporting children adults with complex communication need. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Pub. Co. pp. 65–67. ISBN 978-1-55766-684-0. OCLC 59817863.
  2. ^ Grove, Nicola; Walker, Margaret (1990). "The Makaton Vocabulary: Using manual signs and graphic symbols to develop interpersonal communication". Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 6 (1): 15–28. doi:10.1080/07434619012331275284.
  3. ^ Le Prevost, Patricia A. (2009). "Using the Makaton Vocabulary in early language training with a Down's baby: a single case study". Journal of the British Institute of Mental Handicap. 11 (1): 28–29. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3156.1983.tb00091.x.
  4. ^ Sheehy, K; Duffy, H. "Attitudes to Makaton in the ages of integration and inclusion" (PDF). International Journal of Special Education. pp. 91–102. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  5. ^ "The Makaton Charity". Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  6. ^ "MAKATON – UK00001119745". Intellectual Property Office – By number results. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Oxford Index Search Results – oi". oxfordindex.oup.com. Retrieved 26 March 2017.