Wouldn’t it be great if everyone could say Hello to everyone?
Lámh is a manual sign system used by children and adults with intellectual disability and communication needs in Ireland.
Lámh opens up a person’s world and is a powerful communication tool. People are able to use signs to ask for what they want, to answer questions and to take part in conversations. It helps the Lámh user to understand what is being said and to be understood.
With Lámh, speech is always used with signs and key words in a sentence are signed. Lámh currently has 586 signs – new signs for technology, sports and other general signs were added in 2019.
You can find a list of all Lámh signs here.
Using Lámh signs can reduce frustration, as the Lámh user is able to use signs to ask for what they want, to answer and to take part in conversation. Signing encourages eye contact and attention to movement; skills that are important for supporting speech development.
The Lámh Project aims to spread the word of Lámh and encourages everyone to learn how to sign Hello. If everyone knows how to sign Hello, and knows what Lámh is, they could even go on to learn some more signs, and what a difference that would make.
Information on upcoming Lámh training courses can be found here.
Lámh maintains the Lámh Signs online resource for those who have completed the Lámh Training Courses.
Check out the Lámh Instagram and YouTube page for useful videos, sign of the week and more.
