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Table of content:
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Contact Sign & Speak Australia
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Welcome to Sign & Speak Australia
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Australian Sign Language (Auslan)
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Who can benefit from learning Key Word Signing?
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What is "Sign & Speak Australia"?
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Welcome to Sign & Speak Australia
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Welcome to Sign & Speak Australia.
Together we can make great communication for everyone!
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What is "Sign & Speak Australia"?
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Sign & Speak Australia is a privately owned and managed business, established on the Central Coast of NSW in June 2005.
Jane Beale, Speech Pathologist and Founder of Sign & Speak Australia, is establishing a network of people who have an interest in learning and communicating using Key Word Signing.
Key Word Signing is a style of communication that combines:
- slow, clear speech
- eye contact
- facial and body expression
- basic finger spelling
- 'key' hand signs
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Australian Sign Language (Auslan)
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How does communicating with 'Key Word Signing' differ from using fluent Auslan?
The Australian Deaf Community uses a formal sign language known as ‘Auslan’. An officially recognised language, Auslan is different from English, with its own rich vocabulary, sentence structure, grammatical markers and cultural forms of expression. Due to these differences, it is not possible to speak in English at the same time as signing fluent Auslan.
Key word signing is a style of communication which combines signs with spoken words. Key words are words in a sentence which carry the most meaning or key information. In Australia, English is spoken slowly and clearly at the same time as using Auslan signs.
Key word signing provides people with foundation skills for developing Auslan fluency, including a knowledge of common signs, basic finger spelling and the experience of communicating in a non-verbal way. All signs taught and used at Sign & Speak Australia are based on Auslan.
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Who can benefit from learning Key Word Signing?
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Learning to communicate using Key Word Signing is more than just remembering the hand shapes and movements.
Children and adults who relate to each other using a combination of speech and sign become effective communicators, as key word signing encourages:
For People With Hearing Loss
People who lose their hearing after having learnt to speak may benefit from visual cues to aid speech recognition. Key word signing can be a helpful strategy, especially when family and friends offer their support by also learning a few basic signs.
For People With Unclear Speech
When speech is not clear or easily understood, key word signing provides visual clues to help with understanding.
(NB Some people may have learnt some signing skills through using the MAKATON vocabulary lists. Sign & Speak Australia teach Auslan signs in a manner which is consistent with the MAKATON approach.)
For Babies & Toddlers
Baby Sign is becoming more popular in Australia. Interacting with your baby using key word signing can be a wonderful, bonding experience. Six months of age is an ideal time to begin, however key word signing can be introduced at any age.
Using key word signing with toddlers can have the benefit of reducing frustration and behaviour outbursts (such as crying and tantrums), caused by not being understood.
For Hearing Children Who Struggle With Spoken Language
Hearing children may appear to understand and follow spoken stories and instructions. However, some children struggle with the complexity of spoken language and learn better when verbal instructions are combined with visual cues, such as key signs.
For All Children To Keep Their Attention
Key word signing is beneficial when teaching groups, as signs capture attention, helping children to know what is happening, even in a busy, noisy environment. Most children are highly motivated to join in and copy the signs, making key word signing an ideal activity for any playgroup or classroom!
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Contact Sign & Speak Australia
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Contact: Jane Beale Owner/Manager
PO Box 4619 Lakehaven NSW Australia 2263
At: The Elite Educational Bookshop
6/168 Pacific Highway TUGGERAH NSW 2259
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