The Makaton Charity

Most Makaton users are children and adults who need it as their main means of communication. But everyone else who shares their lives will also use Makaton. These include the families, carers, friends and professionals such as teachers, speech and language therapists, social workers, playgroup staff, college lecturers, instructors, nurses, and psychiatrists.

However, it doesn't stop there. Makaton is rapidly spreading into the wider community, with requests for training to use signs and symbols from supermarket staff, youth groups, theatre groups, bus drivers, the police, museum staff, people working in sports and leisure, faith communities.

The UK government recently legislated that public and commercial services must provide access to important information for everyone, including sign and symbol users. This can be achieved by translation into Makaton symbols and signs.

For example, it is important to understand what a visit to the dentist is all about, to understand about the medication you are taking and its effects, to become aware of danger such as fire or danger from electricity, to have confidence to travel on public transport, and to have access to public buildings.

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A wide variety of training courses and one day workshops catering for the needs of users, carers and professionals. Customised training is also available for public sector workers and agencies.

• Network of approved tutors

A national and international network of approved Makaton tutors who can provide training, and offer advice and guidance on using Makaton on a local or regional basis.

• Resource materials

Teaching guidelines, videos of signs, books of symbols and signs, record sheets, pictures, songs, games, pre school, school and adult-based resource materials, research information, information leaflets, databases etc .

• Translation service

Service providers and users can request advice and a translation service is available to translate any type of public information, in-house guidelines, individual programme plans, documents, leaflets, etc, into Makaton symbols and signs to increase user access.

• Database help and advice

A help line is available to customers who have purchased Makaton with WWS2000 or any of the Makaton Database sets.

• Sign and symbol advice

The Makaton Charity has experienced sign and symbol advisors who can offer help and advice about the use of signs and symbols.

• Makaton quality mark

In response to the significant increase in information being translated with Makaton symbols and signs, a Makaton quality mark is awarded to translated materials and products that have been approved by The Makaton Charity and which meet criteria set to a high standard of translation.

• Makaton centre of excellence award

The Makaton Charity makes this award to establishments and services where the Makaton programme has been realistically and comprehensively implemented to the best possible level to suit users' needs.