Who is Sense?

Sense is a leading national charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind. They provide expert advice and information as well as specialist services to deafblind people, their families and carers. In addition, they support people who have sensory impairments with additional disabilities.

Deafblindness is a visual and hearing impairment. These impairments can be of any type or degree and are sometimes called multi-sensory impairments (MSI). There are many different causes of MSI. People who are multi-sensory impaired usually (but not always) have some degree of useful vision and/or hearing.

Facts

  • There are 27,000 deafblind people in the UK
  • The total number of people with some degree of both sight and hearing impairment in the UK is 2 million.

Services they offer:

  • Sense run branches throughout numerous communities within the UK where people can get together to offer support, share ideas & experiences and socialise.
  • Sense offer ‘Communicator Guides’ who act as the eyes and ears of a Deafblind person, providing practical help with everyday tasks such as shopping, meals, mail, access services such as doctors, dentists, shops and leisure facilities. This is a one-on-one service that helps people live their lives as fully as possible. In 2006/2007, 119 people were provided this service which allows them to remain to a small degree independent.
  • Day Centres develop personalised programs for the Deafblind, designed to teach them new abilities and skills. These programs are monitored to ensure each individual is making progress and personal development.
  • Sense offer an Education & Advisory Service for children, where they develop programs to ensure the child is developing their full potential. They help children learn at school for 180 hrs a week. In 2006/2007 they delivered direct support to 346 individuals and their families.
  • Holidays for the Deafblind of all ages. The holidays are tailored and organised and supported by a group of volunteers. In 2006/2007 they offered 148 Deafblind people the opportunity of one of 29 accessible and stimulating holidays. This allows parents and carers a break from their caring responsibilities.

And finally,

  • Sense run houses in the community where people are supported to live as independently as possible. The houses are adapted for sensory-impaired people and it allows them to live as independently as possible and staffing levels reflect the needs of the people living there. In 2006-2007 they assisted 307 people.