Come On, “Sign Out Loud”

Session

7.6

Exhibitor/Supplier

• Kate McCallum (Beaumont College)
• Sally Featon (Beaumont College)

Summary

To share with the audience how we have inspired our college community to embrace signing and transfer skills learnt in our new ‘Sign Out Loud’ session into the classroom and beyond. This will be a practical session where we share with you the techniques we use to enable the college community to learn and use sign every day.

Method/Activities/Techniques

Makaton is used within college to support learners who have difficulties with both expressive and receptive language. Many students who use high-tech AAC, use sign as a way to support their communication when the aid is not available to them. Students and staff are actively encouraged to choose songs they love and Sally, the Makaton Tutor, and Kate translate these suggestions into sign. These are then taught to the staff and students during the session.

Results/Findings

Songs are repeated weekly and people who attend the session have reported that they feel the repetition of the signs really helps them learn.

Conclusions

‘Sign Out Loud’ has been embraced by both staff and students. We would like to share the success the session has brought to college with the wider AAC community.

Level of Session

Introductory

Age Group

All Ages

Interest

Primary school
Secondary school
Special school
Further/Higher Ed.
Adult
Transitions