By Annie Flynn
A LOCAL speech therapist is calling for more people to learn Makaton, a simple but powerful tool for inclusive communication across Fermanagh and Tyrone.
Makaton is a form of communication that involves both verbal communication and signing. It supports people with learning or communication difficulties and allows them the ability to be understood.
Annie Masterson is a 24 year old speech and language therapist from Enniskillen.
She said, “I work with people from a range of abilities always with the view that every voice matters.”
Annie helps people understand change, make choices and connect with others. She believes Makaton plays a big part in that.
“It’s not just for therapists. Makaton can be used by everyone from babies to older adults,” she said.
Around 30,000 people in the North have a learning disability. Many of them use Makaton but not everyone understands it.
“That’s the problem,” Annie said. “If we don’t learn their language their voice can get lost.”
Popular signs include yes, no, toilet, food and family. These help people express needs and feelings.
“You don’t need a classroom to learn Makaton because there are great videos on TikTok Instagram and YouTube. They’re also easy to follow,” Annie said.
For formal training, people can book Makaton workshops online. Levels 1 to 4 are available.
Annie believes Makaton makes communities more welcoming, more inclusive and more connected.
“Sometimes a simple sign is all it takes to make someone feel seen. “If more people learned even ten signs, we’d see a real difference because everyone deserves to be heard , even without words,” she concluded.”