Personal stories are the way we develop a sense of who we are, make sense of our experiences and make and sustain relationships. Research shows that people with severe communication difficulties - such as severe and profound learning disabilities, autism and language impairments - find it hard to recall and share the stories of their lives. This handbook draws on fifteen years of research and practice into personal storytelling in adult services and educational settings.

Manual signs are used worldwide to support the communication and language development of children who have developmental disabilities. This book provides an overview of forty years of research and practice by recognised experts, from a developmental perspective. Uniquely, the book includes contributions on both sign languages and sign systems, linking the two fields of Deaf studies and Augmentative and Alternative Communication which have historically been seen as separate. This text is the most authoritative single text to date on the topic, providing an invaluable resource for speech...