According to BSL4All, yes it is...
"Just so others understand, Makaton folks stole BSL signs and stripped away some of the more complex grammatical features of the language, then copywrote that. This would be like if someone took a bunch of common English nouns and said, "I invented a new language! Copyright!"
Such arrogance! signed languages are 'owned' by a select area of deaf people, there is NO legal right/copyright to ownership or usage of sign language, and endless debates does BSL have own grammar? too. Do hearing learners 'appropriate' deaf culture and language too? get a grip! Already BSL purists are pulling their hair out and attacking a communication format designed to help and enable deaf , autistic, and disabled children, to what end? If BSL is said to be essential for deaf children does that make any other aid to communication illegal to use? A downright lie only hearing children use Makaton is expressed too.
More evidence of creeping sectarianism in areas of the 'Deaf' community, obviously being paranoid isn't enough of an issue to them. Same old, those who profit via BSL tuition and support don't tolerate 'competition', is nobody caring about the basic issues Makaton, lip-reading, literacy and hearing aids etc are all designed to HELP children, time enough when they are adults to enter the vacuum that the 'Deaf Community' is becoming then. Appalling, that established child support charities are supporting this distortion of sign language view too.
When a culture becomes a cult isn't it. Sara love, please get out more..... Kids come first not you.
