Asda is rolling out Makaton across its NI stores in a bid to be granted Makaton friendly status.
· 384 Asda stores – including Asda Downpatrick – to offer Makaton symbols.
· Makaton Shopping Lists will be available in Asda stores as it’s estimated over million children and adults in the UK rely on the language programme.
Asda is to roll-out the use of Makaton, to aid both children and adults with learning and communication difficulties, at 16 of its stores in Northern Ireland – including Asda Downpatrick.
Makaton is a language programme that uses signs and symbols to help the development of an individual’s communication, language and literacy skills. It is designed to support spoken language, with the signs and symbols used with speech in spoken word order.
The use of Makaton’s signs and symbols can help people at all abilities. From those who have no or unclear speech to those who cannot, or prefer not, to use sign language.
Today over one million children and adults use Makaton symbols and signs in the UK and Asda is launching shopping lists with Makaton symbols that show a range of shopping choices such as milk, bread and bananas that a customer can tick off once they’ve been added to the trolley.
Initially 384 Asda stores, including 16 in Northern Ireland, will have the Makaton shopping lists available for free in-store from the customer service desk for customers to collect at the start of their shop.
Jodie Tate, Asda Vice President Central Retail Operations & Chair of Asda’s Inclusion Board, said: “In 2017 we launched a visual shopping list called Happy Little Helpers which aims to make shopping trips a more pleasant experience for children with learning and communication difficulties.
“Since then we’ve been working closely with the Makaton Charity to implement signs and symbols to support these fun shopping lists and we are really proud to have become the first major UK supermarket to rollout the Makaton counters to over 384 stores.”
Asda has worked closely with The Makaton Charity ahead of the roll-out and is the first major UK supermarket chain to offer Makaton nationwide.
Stephen Hall, Chief Executive – The Makaton Charity, said: “We are thrilled that Asda are incorporating Makaton into their stores. The Makaton Friendly scheme, which recognises establishments of all kinds where Makaton users will feel comfortable, is going from strength to strength.
“We are working with schools, emergency services, attractions, retail and hospitality outlets including many well-known brands. This ensures that the excellent work done by organisations such as Asda continues within the community so that all customers feel welcome.”
The Makaton roll-out follows previous initiatives by Asda to make shopping easier for customers, including the launch of the Happy Little Helpers scheme last year.
Back in 2016, Asda was also the first retailer to launch a ‘Quiet Hour’ to help customers with autism. It has since been working with a number of charities and local authorities to further understand what simple changes can be made to the store environment and in 2018 trialled a new Inclusive Hour at stores, the UK’s first accessible shopping day, established to recognise the importance and needs of customers with disabilities and promote inclusive shopping.
For more information on Makaton Language Programme or The Makaton Charity please visit www.makaton.orgE
