20 core vocabulary signs

My name is Gareth and I’m a self- advocate. I volunteer with Total Communication Services CIC and some time ago

I created the leaflet about autism - You can see it here https://753e2037-f764-4c1c-b2bf-ad4632bf81f7.filesusr.com/ugd/f5d6b4_2081dc1a1016497d9e221c65cf434821.pdf

Recently I have made a short film which shows 20 core vocabulary signs .

I think all care staff need to know some basic signing, just some basic idea of how to communicate would be a good start. Some people with learning disabilities are non -verbal and rely on signs to communicate. Imagine if people couldn’t speak

your language how isolated you would feel. It’s problematic.

We need to be inclusive to all needs, this means adapting our communication. It means meeting people on their terms on their level and using their ways of communicating.

Signalong generously gave us permission to share the signs with other self-advocates and we are grateful for their support. See link to watch the film: https://www.totalcommunication.org/training

Gareth Welford