Recognition of and discrimination between seven Makaton symbols was taught to a young man with severe mental handicap and some physical difficulties which, combined with “poor motivation”, had previously resulted in his failing to learn signing. An errorless learning approach as well as tangible and social reinforcers were used to teach the symbols, while over-learning may also have been important in promoting retention. Following the successful completion of the programme the young man was accepted for speech therapy and further communication training, for which he had previously been thought unsuitable.