To tie-in with the launch of the latest #wouldntchangeathing awareness video, here is one of the tuition videos we prepared to help this charity create another viral sensation for #WorldDownSyndromeAwarenessMonth this October!
The group voted and chose #TIGHTROPE from The Greatest Showmen for their follow-up project as they felt the lyrics struck a chord with the intentions of their charity. We then set about translating the song into Makaton so that signing could again form an important part of the overall video. Please see the sign transcription below our video and also the final project created by #WCAT and information about their charity and their campaign. Enjoy!
Note on translation:
Makaton was devised in the 1970s for adults with learning disabilities – in most of the translation, we’ve stuck to core vocabulary but included some other concepts from the resource vocabulary. For TIGHTROPE, we’ve signed WALK + BALANCE to represent this concept. We then borrowed the sign for GAMBLE (‘risk’) from BSL to represent the line about the families taking a chance on a taking a slightly different life-journey with a child with DS. ‘Risk’ is such a loaded word within the DS community and it didn’t feel right in this song to sign the core vocabulary sign DANGER for ‘risk’. There is a RISK sign (index and thumb tap throat) however from the resource vocabulary if you prefer.
Equally, if you want to stick strictly to Makaton for this one word and keep the focus more positive, you could equally sign LUCKY, that would be ok too. ie. LUCKY + WITH YOU / I LUCKY / LIFE / CHOOSE as another option. There’s always one or more ways to sign some phrases!
The Makaton Charity also created a FREE sign & symbol sheet for this song which you can download here:
TIGHTROPE – THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
Makaton Sign Translation by Singing Hands
Some people long for a life that is simple and planned (PEOPLE / WANT / LIFE / EASY / PLAN)
Tied with a ribbon (PRESENT)
Some people won’t sail the sea ’cause they’re safer on land (PEOPLE / NO *2 HANDS / BOAT / SAFE / LAND)
To follow what’s written (TO DO / TO WRITE)
But I’d follow you to the great unknown (TO FOLLOW / WHERE / DON’T KNOW)
Off to a world we call our own (TO GO / WORLD / TO SAY / OURS)
Hand in my hand (HOLD HANDS)
And we promised to never let go (PROMISE / NO / UNJOIN)
We’re walking the tightrope (WALK / BALANCE)
High in the sky (SKY)
We can see the whole world down below (SEE / WORLD *NB placement of world down low)
We’re walking the tightrope (WALK / BALANCE)
Never sure, never know how far we could fall (NO / TRUE / DON’T KNOW / TO FALL)
But it’s all an adventure (ALL / EXCITED)
That comes with a breathtaking view (TO HAVE / BEAUTIFUL / TO LOOK *NB directional sign)
Walking the tightrope (TO WALK / TO BALANCE)
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (WITH YOU)
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
With you
Mountains and valleys, and all that will come in between (MOUNTAIN / VALLEY / ALL / DIFFERENT / PLACES)
Desert and ocean (SAND + LAND (DESERT) / SEA)
You pulled me in and together we’re lost in a dream (CUDDLE / WITH / TO DREAM)
Always in motion (ALWAYS / CONTINUE)
So I risk it all just to be with you (I / RISK (GAMBLE *BSL) / ALL / WITH YOU )
And I risk it all for this life we choose ( I / RISK (GAMBLE *BSL) / LIFE / TO CHOOSE)
Hand in my hand (HOLD HANDS)
And you promised to never let go (PROMISE / NO *2 HANDS / UNJOIN)
We’re walking the tightrope (TO WALK / TO BALANCE)
High in the sky (SKY)
We can see the whole world down below (TO SEE / WORLD)
We’re walking the tightrope (TO WALK / TO BALANCE)
Never sure, will you catch me if I should fall? (NEVER / TRUE / TO CATCH)
Well, it’s all an adventure (ALL / EXCITING)
That comes with a breathtaking view (TO HAVE / BEAUTIFUL / TO LOOK)
Walking the tightrope (TO WALK / TO BALANCE)
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (WITH YOU)
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (WITH YOU)
With you (WITH YOU)
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (WITH YOU)
With you, ooh-ooh-ooh (WITH YOU)
With you (WITH YOU)
And here is the video that #WCAT launched in October 2018:
Wouldn’t Change a Thing latest Down’s Syndrome awareness project attempts to visualise the road less travelled by those families who have a child with the condition. The aim of their video was to show the initial trepidation often felt by new parents when obtaining a diagnosis. As the video continues the children get older. You’ll see that in some cases the condition can bring medical challenges, but that ultimately life typically blossoms into something very special. It shows why, in spite of the challenges, research shows that over 90% of people with Down Syndrome and their families report being happier and more enriched for having the condition in their lives. Ultimately it shows why so many families say they #wouldntchangeathing. The Wouldn’t Change a Thing Organisation’s stated aim is “To create a world where negative, outdated perceptions of Down’s Syndrome become a thing of the past.”
SMI x