Become Makaton Friendly
Community & Hospitality settings
Why Makaton?
Creating inclusive, welcoming spaces in cafés, community venues, and sports activities ensures everyone feels understood, confident, and valued. For individuals like Paul, Priya, and Sarah, Makaton provides the tools they need to engage, make choices, and fully participate in their environment.
- Paul: Enjoys dining out with his family but prefers using Makaton symbols to make his choices when ordering at cafés and restaurants.
- Priya: Loves visiting heritage sites with friends but struggles with instructions and navigating trails without visual aids and Makaton support.
- Sarah: Attends community events but often feels overwhelmed without Makaton-supported instructions and signage to help her navigate and participate confidently.
By becoming Makaton Friendly, your setting can ensure individuals like Paul, Priya, and Sarah feel included, confident, and able to enjoy their time in your space.
Become Makaton Friendly today!
Imagine a Makaton Friendly setting
Here's how Makaton can transform the experience for your visitors:
- In a café or restaurant:
Paul uses a symbolled menu to confidently make his choice, and staff take the time to understand his preferences using Makaton signs.
- In a heritage site or community venue:
Priya navigates the venue with ease thanks to symbolled signage for trails, toilets, and activity zones. Makaton-trained volunteers encourage her involvement in group activities with clear, symbolled instructions.
- At a community event:
Sarah feels included in activities with clear Makaton-supported instructions and signage. Staff and volunteers use basic Makaton to communicate, helping her engage fully and feel part of the group.
This inclusive approach doesn’t just support individuals with communication needs - it creates a positive experience for all!
How your setting can become Makaton Friendly
Becoming Makaton Friendly is easy with the right tools, training, and the support of your Makaton Tutor. Here's how your Makaton Tutor will guide you through the process:
1. Create an inclusive space
- Work with your Makaton Tutor to implement symbolled signage for essential areas like toilets, snack areas, fire exits, and activity zones.
- Collaborate with your Makaton Tutor to provide symbolled instructions for menus, trails, and activities, ensuring visitors can navigate independently.
2. Train your team
- Your Makaton Tutor will help you provide the agreed Makaton training for your staff, equipping them with the appropriate skills to communicate effectively.
3. Incorporate Makaton into daily activities
- Your Makaton Tutor will show you how to make the most of your Premium Group Membership, using Makaton signs, symbols, and resources to enhance communication across your setting.
- They will help ensure both written and verbal communications are made accessible using Makaton, so every visitor can engage and participate.
4. Plan for individual needs
- Together with your Makaton Tutor, you'll create opportunities for visitors to communicate, make choices, and participate at their own pace, ensuring inclusivity for everyone.
- Your Makaton Tutor can also support you in developing an inclusive environment, for example quiet spaces and sensory areas.
Why it matters
Becoming Makaton Friendly benefits your visitors, staff, and the wider community:
- For visitors: They feel confident, understood, and able to engage in the activities they enjoy.
- For staff: They are equipped with the skills to communicate effectively, giving them confidence and job satisfaction.
- For your setting: It builds a reputation for inclusivity and accessibility, encouraging visitors to return and recommend your space.
Start your journey today
Join the growing number of community and hospitality settings making a difference. With the guidance of a Makaton Tutor, you can create an environment where everyone feels included and supported.
Get in touch with a Makaton Tutor to develop a tailored plan for your setting. From training to resources, your tutor will support you every step of the way to ensure your space is truly inclusive and welcoming for all.
If you are unable to find a Makaton Friendly Tutor in your area, please get in touch with the Makaton Places team on [email protected]
Ready to apply?
Together, let's create a community where everyone can communicate, participate, and thrive with confidence!