The Makaton Language Programme was developed in the 1970’s following research that found the combination of signs and symbols along with speech enabled those with communication difficulties to interact better.    

Today there are over 11,000 Makaton concepts for which there are signs and symbols in the English language and these have been adapted for use in 40 countries worldwide. We continue to update and develop the language programme which is used by an estimated 1 million people in the UK. Users can be of any age and may have been born with communication challenges or may have developed them later in life through having, for example, a stroke, dementia or brain tumour. Makaton is the preferred language programme for those with communication challenges caused by Down’s Syndrome and Autism and can also be used with babies before they have developed verbal communication. 

Our mission is for “To ensure that all people living with learning or communication difficulties have the tools and information they need to communicate.”   

To help achieve our vision The Makaton Charity is going to develop an online training taster that will be free to the public and will give them an insight as to what Makaton is, teach them some concepts and offer further learning opportunities. This campaign will generate the funds to create the online programme required to host the online training taster.

The reason for developing this new online resource as well as others is to create a society that is better equipped to interact with those with learning and communication difficulties and to enable more of the 2.2 million people in UK struggle with speech, language & communication today.