The Glenleighden School uses the Paget Gorman Signed Speech manual signing system as an augmentative communication system as well as an organisational framework for the students. The signing is intended to facilitate, not replace, oral language communication.

Evidence from its use in a number of schools in the UK and from the years it has been in used here at Glenleighden demonstrate that it is very effective in assisting children to develop language. It is used as a tool to teach language and help children communicate through a medium in which they can feel comfortable if they have speech production or expressive language difficulties.

As the children use the signs in conjunction with oral language, they develop a supportive coding system which is visual not aural (where most have their greatest difficulties) so that, when they need to use speech, it is easier for them to find the words they want and, over time they are better able to produce the words orally.

Signing is used with all the students according to their different needs. Even the most vocal children are able to benefit from signs either as an aid to their comprehension of what is being said to them or as an aid to their own verbalizations. Paget Gorman Signed Speech closely represents the English language concepts and structure. All signs are represented around a conceptual base – a basic sign (eg animal) which helps children to learn classifications.

In addition, every morphological feature of the language (eg –ed past tense endings) is represented so that children learn about the English language while they use signs. Tense and future time is also noted in a simple, but conceptually meaningful way by representation of time past, time present or time in the future. Paget Gorman Signed Speech enables the students to code language visually and ‘hold onto it’ longer, while aural language experiences tend to be very ‘fleeting ‘and ‘vague’.

Changes and modification to signs are carried out as necessary to meet the needs of the children and appear meaningful when they are signed.  Examples include – man   lady; king queen; boy  girl.  Signing is taught at the school for the parents as well. They are encouraged to put time and energy in to using this signing system at home in order to assist their children who particularly need this form language learning and visual communication. It provides an opportunity for support and networking between home and school.

Acknowledgement: Mancel Ellis Robinson, Founding Director CHI.L.D. Association

More information on Paget Gorman signed speech can be accessed at www.psgss.org.