At the beginning of this year, Coventry Transport Museum became the third museum in the country to be approved as Makaton-friendly by the Makaton Charity. Makaton is a language that uses signs (gestures) and symbols (pictures) to support speech and can be helpful for people with learning or communication difficulties. It is also easier to learn than British Sign Language. The Makaton-friendly scheme recognises organisations that make their services accessible to people who use the language.
It was developed in the 1970s, but over the past decade the BBC television show, Something Special, a children’s programme that features Makaton, has raised the language’s profile significantly.
Laura Musgrave, the community engagement officer at Culture Coventry, a trust that manages four museums and heritage sites in the city, says the idea of using Makaton arose during a £9.5m redevelopment. The museum consulted community groups and visitors to gather ideas on how to become more accessible.
Makaton can be helpful for a wide range of people, says Musgrave. “It could be someone with learning disabilities, or an adult who has had a stroke.”
The museum has Makaton symbols on the introduction panels of each gallery, summing up the main themes. The language is also used to signpost facilities, and around 20 staff have been trained in basic signs.
The project was funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant for the museum’s redevelopment, which was completed in June 2015. It included consultancy from the Makaton Charity, which approved the creation of symbols including “bike designer” and “picnic area”.
Musgrave says there has been a positive response from visitors. “It’s relatively easy to learn and makes such a big difference to people,” she says.
Another museum that has found Makaton helpful is Combe Martin Museum on the north Devon coast, which was recognised as Makaton-friendly in January 2013. Pat Chesterton, the museum’s manager and a former Makaton teacher, says she wanted to help local school pupils with special educational needs (SEN) understand exhibitions at the museum.
Using a sustainable development grant from the local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty partnership, the museum has placed Makaton symbols next to each display. It also has two databases of symbols that can be printed and has trained volunteers in signs.
London’s Science Museum was approved as Makaton-friendly in 2013 – some staff can communicate in the language, which has been used in its galleries. But Karen Davies, the museum’s head of learning research and resources, says other techniques can be more effective. The museum offers audio-described tours and early openings for children with autism spectrum conditions. “Makaton is just one tool we use to help our SEN audiences,” Davies says.
It’s also helpful for people who can’t read well, maybe because they haven’t been fortunate enough to receive better tuition.
Using Makaton has been an eye-opener to how many people struggle with communication. There are lots of comments in the visitor book about how helpful it’s been, and people from abroad have come and said they know the language.”
Pat Chesterton is the manager of Combe Martin Museum, Devon
It was developed in the 1970s, but over the past decade the BBC television show, Something Special, a children’s programme that features Makaton, has raised the language’s profile significantly.
Laura Musgrave, the community engagement officer at Culture Coventry, a trust that manages four museums and heritage sites in the city, says the idea of using Makaton arose during a £9.5m redevelopment. The museum consulted community groups and visitors to gather ideas on how to become more accessible.
Makaton can be helpful for a wide range of people, says Musgrave. “It could be someone with learning disabilities, or an adult who has had a stroke.”
The museum has Makaton symbols on the introduction panels of each gallery, summing up the main themes. The language is also used to signpost facilities, and around 20 staff have been trained in basic signs.
The project was funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant for the museum’s redevelopment, which was completed in June 2015. It included consultancy from the Makaton Charity, which approved the creation of symbols including “bike designer” and “picnic area”.
Musgrave says there has been a positive response from visitors. “It’s relatively easy to learn and makes such a big difference to people,” she says.
Another museum that has found Makaton helpful is Combe Martin Museum on the north Devon coast, which was recognised as Makaton-friendly in January 2013. Pat Chesterton, the museum’s manager and a former Makaton teacher, says she wanted to help local school pupils with special educational needs (SEN) understand exhibitions at the museum.
Using a sustainable development grant from the local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty partnership, the museum has placed Makaton symbols next to each display. It also has two databases of symbols that can be printed and has trained volunteers in signs.
London’s Science Museum was approved as Makaton-friendly in 2013 – some staff can communicate in the language, which has been used in its galleries. But Karen Davies, the museum’s head of learning research and resources, says other techniques can be more effective. The museum offers audio-described tours and early openings for children with autism spectrum conditions. “Makaton is just one tool we use to help our SEN audiences,” Davies says.
Helping a broad range of people
“Makaton can help a wide range of people, even if they haven’t learned it before. It’s good for people with autism. If they come in and there’s nothing for them to relate to, boredom quickly sets in. But if they lock on to something, their mind can focus on the display.It’s also helpful for people who can’t read well, maybe because they haven’t been fortunate enough to receive better tuition.
Using Makaton has been an eye-opener to how many people struggle with communication. There are lots of comments in the visitor book about how helpful it’s been, and people from abroad have come and said they know the language.”
Pat Chesterton is the manager of Combe Martin Museum, Devon