SESAME method
Resource
Name of the resource
SESAME method
Link
http://www.laclairiere.be/code/page.php?p=306
Target audience
People with moderate or severe mental disability, who do not understand spoken language, who cannot use spoken language or cannot use spoken language very well (children and adults). As well as people who want to communicate with them.
Objectives
Provide a communication tool to understand the person with a disability better and to be understood by them.
Its use
It is a method of communication using gestures and pictograms, combining spoken language as a means of expression and sign language as a means of comprehension. It does not require any device.
Strong and weak points
Strong points:
- Adapted to people with different levels of disability (from moderate to severe).
- Encourages communication between speaking and non-speaking people.
- Illustrations are simple and efficient.
Weak points:
- Need to follow a specific training to be used.
- Only exists in French.
Others
It was created by a specialised school in Brussels in 1990. It contains around 800 signs.
Parents and professionals must follow a training to learn how to use this method.