Sara Peaford has been a Signalong Tutor since 2008, Sara Peaford has been a Signalong Tutor since 2008, working with Treetops School and providing support to the CdLS Foundation. CdLS Foundation supports people with Cornelia De Lange Syndrome (CdLS).
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS), is a rare genetic disorder present from birth and is characterised by distinctive facial features, growth and limb abnormalities. Cdls affects multiple systems, including the hearts, gastrointestinal tract, and the nervous system. Most people with CdLS have learning difficulties (ranging from mild to severe) and speed, language and communication difficulties. As a Speech and Language Therapist, Sara said using Signalong helps develop language and reduce frustration as it allows children/adults to be able to communicate their needs.
Sara has always used signing with her sister who has CdLS to support her communication needs. Although her sister is verbal, she struggles with intelligibility and understanding language. When Sara qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist, she joined the scientific advisory council for CdLS and has attended the family conferences which are held across the UK. During some of the conferences, Sara would offer signing workshops to families and they took a keen interest in them.
How has using Signalong helped children with CdLS?
Signalong has enabled CdLS families to support communication needs but also allows them to unite as a community. CdLS Foundation is a small charity that is spread across the whole of the United Kingdom. Sara commented: “By creating things such as awareness videos, using signing has helped to raise awareness which hopefully in the future will help more families in getting their child diagnosed, more doctors and other health professionals who would have seen the syndrome and know how to support our people with CdLS.”
Sara uses Signalong on a daily basis as a family member, as a teacher in a SEN school and promoting it amongst CdLS families. Sara commented: “we find that people who use it are able to understand more, generalise more, and are able to use language more.”
Take a look at the amazing video CdLS Foundation created this year of families and Foundation members signing along to their CdLS Awareness Song using Signalong.
View CdLS Foundation's YouTube Channel here.
When asked if Sara would recommend Signalong to others, she said: “I would recommend signing to everyone. Even those who have difficulties to sign, it has enabled them to help with their understanding of language. We have many people who have selective mutism and CdLS and signing has been a massive support to these learners. Signing with families has also helped to develop relationships with siblings.”
Find out more about the CdLS Foundation
To find out more about the CdLS Foundation, what it is and how they support families, please visit https://www.cdls.org.uk/
To find out how Signalong could benefit you or someone you know, please get in touch with our expert team at admin@signalong.org.uk