tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18079831.post320083637012456176..comments2024-02-27T10:51:53.355+00:00Comments on Was this in the Plan?: The right to be heardStephanie Nimmohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837022520852263952noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18079831.post-42764980158277990422013-10-21T12:43:15.981+01:002013-10-21T12:43:15.981+01:00Every year I have to remind the team in my kid'...Every year I have to remind the team in my kid's school not to speak about them, in front of them. (unless it is positive) This is why God invented email and text. If they have an issue to discuss they can message me easily and discreetly.lisamareedomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18079831.post-2297456302227133692012-05-16T22:56:16.112+01:002012-05-16T22:56:16.112+01:00Never to late to comment on a post! And as you say...Never to late to comment on a post! And as you say you never know when you may need sign language - husband and I frequently use makaton across a crowded room!!!Stephanie Nimmohttp://www.facebook.com/stephnimmonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18079831.post-92187138892265860892012-05-16T22:50:19.038+01:002012-05-16T22:50:19.038+01:00A little bit late, I know, but I saw this post on ...A little bit late, I know, but I saw this post on your "popular posts" list on the right and thought I'd respond. i've noticed that there is quite a bit of sign language on children's TV now, and that schools have started to teach basic sign language. A couple of years ago you may have read or heard in the news about Lynn Gilderdale, the young woman with severe ME who lost the ability to speak at age 14 (among many other things; she remained totally bedridden from that point on) and because her memory was so bad that she could not learn proper sign language, she relied on a system of impromptu hand-signs and using the few letters she had retained to spell out words. It caused her a lot of frustration. As time went on and her memory got better, though, she was able to talk about anything with her family, but she only ever used her own signs and not BSL or, as far as I've heard, Makaton. Learning this sort of thing is important as we never know when we might need it, even if only across a crowded room.Matthew Smithhttp://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18079831.post-848900819219501042012-04-24T09:42:23.150+01:002012-04-24T09:42:23.150+01:00What an amazing little girl! I cried when i seen t...What an amazing little girl! I cried when i seen that she had signed 'I love mummy' when talking about mothers day. My little boys needs are too severe to manage or understand makaton just yet but I do hope some day he too will be able to communicate his thoughts with us. I agree whole heartedly - communication is not just about speech! Emhttp://twitter.com/MyLittleHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18079831.post-21351796340141586292012-04-02T23:29:02.075+01:002012-04-02T23:29:02.075+01:00My son has Down Syndrome, a tracheostomy and until...My son has Down Syndrome, a tracheostomy and until recently was 24hr ventilated. Makaton has been life changing for him as its given him a voice. He now tells us things and its lovely. What we love most is when he sits and signs songs to himself whilst he's playing. We never thought we'd say it but our boy is a real chatterbox and its fantastic.Stephnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18079831.post-15938746968445245442012-04-02T21:39:58.895+01:002012-04-02T21:39:58.895+01:00Fantastic Post. I am so glad Daisy is doing so wel...Fantastic Post. I am so glad Daisy is doing so well. <br /><br />Nicky is 2 with Bilateral Vocalcord Palsy and tracheostomy and only communicates with Makaton. She is so clever and has such a great attitude. Thankfully most people that come round here do talk to nicky and then ask me to translate what she is saying, for their visit they might remember a few basic signs. <br />Also a bonus is that her little brother is picking signs up just as quick as she is, both can sign "little peter rabbit" and "3 little monkeys". It makes me so proud I am bursting :) To imagine Nicky wouldn't be able to tell us whats up is very frustrating. <br /><br />Lucy xxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18079831.post-15962845597956508922012-04-01T19:58:47.394+01:002012-04-01T19:58:47.394+01:00I found this post especially moving - especially t...I found this post especially moving - especially the quote at the end.<br /><br />I'm in my twenties and have stammered since I was a small child. For years (from the age of about fourteen until twenty one) I was almost silent, never speaking a word. I wouldn't use a telephone, wouldn't talk in class or even to friends and was only really able to speak openly when at home with my family.<br /><br />I know the frustration of having so much to say and yet not being able to get out a word, I know what it's like to have someone finish your sentences and assume that they know what you want to say, what it's like to have people talk over you because you can't even say your own name.<br /><br />I think that ensuring that Daisy has a way to communicate is the greatest gift you could ever have given her. She's a beautiful little girl and deserves to be heard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18079831.post-63375603104952987632012-03-30T11:42:07.180+01:002012-03-30T11:42:07.180+01:00What a lovely post, thank you. When I retire, not ...What a lovely post, thank you. When I retire, not long now, it's my ambition to learn to sign. Hopefully when I have, I will be able to put it to good use helping others.<br />Daisy is fortunate that she has been given the opportunity, and has been able, to sign. Many children do not have the ability to learn to sign and will be locked in their own world forever. So sad.Lynda@orchardtoyshttp://www.orchardtoys.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18079831.post-10682646309913916542012-03-30T11:25:29.501+01:002012-03-30T11:25:29.501+01:00Excellent post, we love Singing Hands but have nev...Excellent post, we love Singing Hands but have never had chance to meet them! I love the way school helped Daisy to communicate her feelings about you for Mother's day, really moving.<br />There needs to be a much greater awareness of alternative means of communication particularly in educational settings! When Max was younger we used a lot of Makaton, it always amused me that people assumed he was deaf! I found it shocking and frustrating that so many professionals working in disability lacked a basic understanding/ awareness of Makaton. Thank you for raising this important issue.Caroline Suttonhttp://www.mumtochromoboy.blogspot.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18079831.post-49023328873691496162012-03-30T11:21:49.653+01:002012-03-30T11:21:49.653+01:00Well said. Dominic communicated exclusively by Mak...Well said. Dominic communicated exclusively by Makaton until he was three, now his speech is more or less understood by people he uses it less and less. People (medical professionals usually) still talk over the top of him though unless they know him. I find it remarkable that the default is to not ask his opinion about any of the things that they are proposing to do to <i>him</i> and <i>his</i> body. I end up referring each and every question to him, and even if he's too shy to speak to the dr directly, he will tell me what he thinks of the plan and I'll translate for the dr. I think you've highlighted an important learning point for all professionals involved with children, the children have a right to be heard and be involved in their own care (even if it's as simple as saying no I don't want you to examine me) and to not take this approach is, in effect, taking away their right to have an opinion about their own treatment.<br /><br />Roger and I use Makaton to communicate across crowded rooms, it's very versatile!Renata @ Just Bring the Chocolatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18320454374679931079noreply@blogger.com