Updated: Sep 29, 2025
Many of the families we have worked with during the Speaking Out Being Heard
project told us that personal care and body parts vocabulary were crucial for their
son or daughter. We created a short list based on feedback at the end of the training
course so that we could include these signs in our training. Families told us what
signs they needed, particularly for their teenagers who were experiencing changes
to their bodies.
There were challenges to finding the right images, which had to be obvious rather
than oblique; in order to be clear what we were referring to. Luckily Boardmaker has
some symbols which are clear. Sometimes, if we are honest, these images can be a
bit blatant or make us feel slightly uncomfortable.
My time spent working as a Registered Intermediary, working alongside the police
has taught me to feel passionate about teaching this vocabulary. Not everyone will
need the vocabulary in a harrowing situation in a police interview, however the
people we support may need to know the names of body parts, body functions as a
means of keeping themselves safe. Some of the people I worked with, in that role,
did not know the names of genitalia and instead we had to go with the family name
for that part or sometimes a slang word, if that was the word they used. On occasion,
people had to show you what they were trying to say , using wooden dolls or body
maps, rather than tell you verbally.
If we are serious about speaking up and being heard, we must include these vital
words and we must get over our own discomfort in talking about, in signing and in
showing the images.
So, it’s not just dominoes you’re playing, it’s teaching safeguarding vocabulary.
This could make all the difference to someone in the future and could be prevent
abuse, provide someone with dignity, and give them choice and control over
their bodies.
Here's the link on our website to download our 'Personal Care and Body Parts' resource:
Alison Matthews
Updated: Aug 4, 2025
We were lucky enough to be awarded finding by the National Lottery and last year we worked on our Speaking Out Making Changes project. We worked alongside interns form DISC to create Signalong films and the 4 students from
the Speech & Language Therapy course at the University of Manchester created resources to go with those films.
The first topic we are sharing are resources on 'Feelings and Emotions'.
Our student, Emily Marsh, developed the well-known song ‘If you’re happy and you know it’ into an opportunity
to sign. The idea was developed with staff and supported people from Pathways to Opportunities in Oldham.
Emily also created a Memory Pairs game, which we are also sharing so you
can offer the chance to learn signs in a fun way.
The game uses matching and repetition to good effect which means people
playing get time to learn the signs .
You can download the games below or from our website:
Thanks to Boardmaker for the use of symbols and Signalong for permission
to share their line drawings illustrating the correct methodology.
We have a brand new set of signs! These were created with interns from DISC and students
from the university of Manchester. The new set arose following a discussion on the importance
of a consistent signing system with Dean Coady from Urban Pure solutions. Dean was using signing
in his training to great effect.
We set about ensuring the people he trained were aware that Signalong is often the preferred
signing support system and a years of training and promotion have gone into ensuring consistency
across local areas. So we got together with our team of volunteers and with the interns at DISC
to update the signs.
The result is a specific set, with grateful thanks to Signalong for their support too. Please see
our YouTube channel and check out Dean’s website too.
