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| Makaton helps autistic boy Alex, 6, to communicate | Makaton helps autistic boy Alex, 6, to communicate |
| (2 months later) | |
| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
| To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
| Call to teach 'wonderful' Makaton in Welsh schools | Call to teach 'wonderful' Makaton in Welsh schools |
| Call to teach 'wonderful' Makaton in Welsh schools | |
| A language system made famous by children's TV presenter Mr Tumble has helped a six-year-old boy to communicate for the first time. | A language system made famous by children's TV presenter Mr Tumble has helped a six-year-old boy to communicate for the first time. |
| Alex, from Penmon on Anglesey, is autistic, and does not speak. | Alex, from Penmon on Anglesey, is autistic, and does not speak. |
| But Makaton enables him to communicate with his family, who said the effects have been "life changing". | But Makaton enables him to communicate with his family, who said the effects have been "life changing". |
| Makaton uses hand signs alongside spoken language to help people with learning or communication disabilities who find speaking difficult. | Makaton uses hand signs alongside spoken language to help people with learning or communication disabilities who find speaking difficult. |
| Alex's family have added their voice to a growing number of calls for it to be taught more widely in Welsh schools. | Alex's family have added their voice to a growing number of calls for it to be taught more widely in Welsh schools. |
| Calls for Makaton to be taught in schools | Calls for Makaton to be taught in schools |
| Alton Towers staff to be trained in Makaton | Alton Towers staff to be trained in Makaton |
| His grandmother Lyn Gallagher said: "When Alex was younger he was very frustrated and would bang his head because he couldn't communicate. | His grandmother Lyn Gallagher said: "When Alex was younger he was very frustrated and would bang his head because he couldn't communicate. |
| "Now he can give his thoughts to us and tell us if he wants milk or juice or water. | "Now he can give his thoughts to us and tell us if he wants milk or juice or water. |
| Alex used to get frustrated at not being able to communicate when he was younger | Alex used to get frustrated at not being able to communicate when he was younger |
| "He can tell me a little story - he can tell me that he went for a walk to the woods with granddad and they saw lots of tall trees. | "He can tell me a little story - he can tell me that he went for a walk to the woods with granddad and they saw lots of tall trees. |
| "Before learning Makaton, he could never tell me what was in his head. | "Before learning Makaton, he could never tell me what was in his head. |
| Alex is now able to communicate with his grandmother | Alex is now able to communicate with his grandmother |
| "But this has calmed him down and helped with his tempers and his behaviour. | "But this has calmed him down and helped with his tempers and his behaviour. |
| "It's enabled him to tell us what he likes and what he doesn't like, if he wants to do something or if he's not feeling well. | "It's enabled him to tell us what he likes and what he doesn't like, if he wants to do something or if he's not feeling well. |
| "To see the frustration in him melt away has been life changing - Makaton has been wonderful." | "To see the frustration in him melt away has been life changing - Makaton has been wonderful." |
| Makaton was developed in the 1970s and 1980s, and is named using the initials of the people who originally created it. | Makaton was developed in the 1970s and 1980s, and is named using the initials of the people who originally created it. |
| It uses signs made with the hands alongside speech and graphic symbols. | It uses signs made with the hands alongside speech and graphic symbols. |
| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
| To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
| "It would be heart-breaking for me if no-one could understand him" | |
| "It would be heart-breaking for me if no-one could understand him" | "It would be heart-breaking for me if no-one could understand him" |
| Non Lederle, deputy chief officer of Conwy Connect, a charity which supports people with learning disabilities in north Wales, uses Makaton. | Non Lederle, deputy chief officer of Conwy Connect, a charity which supports people with learning disabilities in north Wales, uses Makaton. |
| She helps to run a community choir in Colwyn Bay which performs songs in Makaton. | She helps to run a community choir in Colwyn Bay which performs songs in Makaton. |
| "Makaton uses some of the signs from British Sign Language used by deaf people, but you always speak at the same time, and you only sign key words," she said. | "Makaton uses some of the signs from British Sign Language used by deaf people, but you always speak at the same time, and you only sign key words," she said. |
| Makaton has been made popular by Mr Tumble | Makaton has been made popular by Mr Tumble |
| "The emphasis is on it being a bridge between speech and communication. | "The emphasis is on it being a bridge between speech and communication. |
| "With a child that could be as simple as tapping the lower arm close to the elbow to make the sign for 'biscuit'. | "With a child that could be as simple as tapping the lower arm close to the elbow to make the sign for 'biscuit'. |
| "And then you build it up from there as their confidence increases. | "And then you build it up from there as their confidence increases. |
| "In the choir, you can see people's confidence grow as they learn to use new signs and realise they can communicate with others around them." | "In the choir, you can see people's confidence grow as they learn to use new signs and realise they can communicate with others around them." |
| Makaton features prominently in the children's TV programme Something Special, presented by Justin Fletcher, known as Mr Tumble. | Makaton features prominently in the children's TV programme Something Special, presented by Justin Fletcher, known as Mr Tumble. |
| Ms Gallagher added: "He is a wonderful ambassador for Makaton, and he's bringing signs into your home that maybe children wouldn't always see. | Ms Gallagher added: "He is a wonderful ambassador for Makaton, and he's bringing signs into your home that maybe children wouldn't always see. |
| "It would be lovely - really positive - if it could be taught in more schools." | "It would be lovely - really positive - if it could be taught in more schools." |
| In 2019, a petition was submitted to the Senedd calling for children in Welsh schools to learn Makaton. | In 2019, a petition was submitted to the Senedd calling for children in Welsh schools to learn Makaton. |
| The Welsh government said at the time that "languages, literacy and communication is one of six areas of learning and experience in the new curriculum for Wales. | The Welsh government said at the time that "languages, literacy and communication is one of six areas of learning and experience in the new curriculum for Wales. |
| "Where appropriate, schools can introduce British Sign Language as their international language." | "Where appropriate, schools can introduce British Sign Language as their international language." |
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