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Witness History: Makaton - the signing system that changes lives

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Makaton - the signing system that changes lives

10/11/2020 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, Makaton - the signing system that changes lives

The creation of a communication system for people with learning difficulties in the 1970s

How British speech therapist Margaret Walker invented a communication system for people with learning difficulties in the 1970s.

In the 1970s, British speech therapist Margaret Walker invented a revolutionary system of communication for children and adults with special needs. Makaton uses simple signs to reinforce spoken speech and make it easier for people with learning difficulties to understand the meaning. Makaton is now used by millions of people in around 40 countries around the world; it helps everyone from children with Down’s Syndrome to pensioners with dementia. Margaret Walker talks to Simon Watts.

PHOTO: A Makaton user (credit: The Makaton Charity)

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