BUSINESS have come together to promote inclusivity and make Devizes a Makaton sign language friendly town.

Makaton uses speech with hand signs and is used by young children and parents and people with development disabilities.

Mother Lucy Heasman uses Makaton to communicate with her young son Alex, who has a speech delay. She asked businesses in the town if they wanted to learn and was overwhelmed by the response, with 40 companies expressing their enthusiasm about Makaton.

Mrs Heasman, 41, of Broadleas Park, Devizes, said: “It has changed our lives completely. Without it my son wouldn’t be able to express concepts such as wanting to be a teacher when he’s older

“It is all about enhancing inclusivity and increasing accessibility to all in the town.

“When my son is an adult I don’t want him to not go into a shop because he feels like he might not be understood.”

Among the businesses to get involved is a dog groomer, jewellers, beauty parlour, photographers and a pub.

John Robinson, a director at Hunter French estate agents, said: “We have buyers from all walks of life and so we thought it was good for an estate agent to be involved in an initiative like this. I don’t know too much about it yet but We are looking forward to finding out more.

“I think Devizes has such a good community spirit and that shows from the way people have got behind this idea.”

Paula Winchcombe, director and owner of Charles S. Winchcombe & Son, said: “Any initiative to make services accessible to everyone is positive. We are already very involved in the community and among other activities act as collection point for Talking News and are part of Wiltshire Council’s Safe Places scheme.”

Mrs Heasman is working with instructors and hopes to roll out a programme to give all businesses the chance to learn the basics of Makaton.

To find out more email Lucy Heasman on lucyheasman.lh@googlemail.com or search for the Facebook group: 'Let's make Devizes Makaton Friendly'