How Teach Rex makes communication roarsome with Widgit Symbols

Before introducing Widgit across Teach Rex, it was important for us to raise awareness around the varying needs of individuals, and how something like Widgit could make a positive impact. We then did some training around specific resources like our Communication Board, and how this could be used effectively alongside what we do. Having first used it at our shows for the Natural History Museum, I was approached by a German family asking if the performance was in English. It was great to signpost them to the board in support of this experience, and made us realise what a valuable tool it will also prove for audiences with English as an additional language (EAL).

We visited a school last week and were asked by the head teacher whether our workshops would be suitable for deaf children. We mentioned our recent partnership with Widgit and introducing symbols to our performances, and it felt like discussing a familiar language. Widgit is already being used in schools to support pupils of all abilities, which in turn allows us to engage with young people who, without symbolised communication in place, would perhaps otherwise have missed out.

Our partnership with Widgit goes beyond simply integrating symbols. Thanks to specially designed symbols specific to our vocabulary, we’ve worked with the team to ensure symbolised resources are truly bespoke to what we do. That way, with our Teach Rex Communication Board in place, our performances are brought to life in more ways than one. Widgit has given us the tools and the confidence to reach more audience members than ever before, as we strive to champion inclusive learning opportunities across all of our settings – from schools to theatres, and beyond.

Although we’re just getting started on our journey with Widgit, we definitely believe our symbolised resources will continue to support our performances everywhere and have a positive impact. As we continue to evolve as a business, we’ll be branching out to audiences in educational settings all over the world, and it’s important to us that we champion inclusive learning experiences every step of the way. We’ve already had great feedback from our Communication Board, and we’d love to see this evolve into something more specific to the school environment, particularly for those teachers wishing to download and share the resource ahead of time.

We’d definitely recommend Widgit to all organisations great and small. What we offer is really unique, and Widgit understood the brief to ensure our resources stay true to the Teach Rex philosophy and the stories we are passionate to tell. Their team brought creativity, care, and expertise to every stage of the process, helping us make our materials accessible without ever losing the magic of what we do. We hope to see other organisations embrace symbolised communication in the same way, enabling individuals of all abilities to approach learning with an exciting sense of adventure and discovery.