About Me
My first pull towards signing was for a Blue Peter Appeal in the early 1990s when I was around 7 years’ old, fundraising by learning to finger spell the alphabet. I remember having such a strong desire to learn this and it was absolutely the spark to my signing journey.
(I knew there was a reason I held onto the original magazine cut-out I found the appeal in!)
Whilst studying for my A-Levels, I worked part time at the shop Habitat in Nottingham. A customer who left a huge impression on me was a lady who was deaf. I felt at such a loss and incapable of being able to communicate to this lady; other than being able to sign each individual letter for each individual word, which would have taken a while! I felt I should have been able to do more and this experience inspired me to buy a book, which I still have ⬅ I took this on my travels and to University in my late teens and early twenties.
When I began full time work in my early twenties is when I first came across Makaton. I worked as a Learning Support Assistant at a Special Needs College in Cheshire and gradually learnt more signs to communicate with our students. During this time I lived in a house share with two people who were French and who had little English. I found that to communicate with them, I automatically started to sign - it was like a reflex when I was unable to be understood!
Since then, I have used Makaton in all my jobs, mostly working with young people with learning, communication and physical disabilities and children in the care system, as a mentor and tutor.
When I had my own children, I used Makaton once again from very early on to support my verbal communication with them – “more” was definitely the sign they both picked up first! As my youngest started to speak, he had a significant stammer which he still manages today. Using some Makaton signs with him has been key in helping him communicate and slow down when he gets stuck on words.
I now work freelance as a Makaton Tutor and for an Inclusive Theatre Company ‘TwoCan’ based in Gloucestershire; supporting and running life skills, music and creative sessions and leading our TwoCan Inclusive Choir.
I am so passionate about the power of Makaton and its importance in inclusion and accessibility for all; communication is a human right and I believe Makaton empowers this communication for all.
I look forward to meeting you, please get in touch if you have any questions.
Sophie
"We had a fantastic session - hats off to Sophie because she was phenomenal. We really, really enjoyed it" Wickselm House, Berkeley
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