Rotary Club of Senlac

A WELCOME was extended to Ed Charles, Regional Fund Raising Manager, representing SENSE (charity for deaf-blind people).

An immediate statement by the speaker revealed the charity was not well known. Focus was on children and adults who were deaf/blind and the link with their families.

It was necessary to provide support services. Deaf-blindness could mean more than one or other combination of disabilities.

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The major problem was communication and mobility. Causes vary '“ meningitis, accident or old age, which may occur during the span of life. Without a loving family, deafblind people can be isolated and conscious of not wishing to be a burden to carers - an example would be the boiling of water in a kettle to make a hot drink. Rapid hearing loss and gradual sight loss means loss of independence.

A congenital condition means a person is born deaf or blind or into an usher syndrome (only a window of vision). SENSE is a leading national charity promoting communication and considered to be experts in a field of working with deafblind children when born and able to support families.

SENSE is able to provide such services as (a) Ongoing support (b) Day services (c) Quality of service providing care (d) Being sustainable (e) Developing deafblind people to have skills within the community and able to live independently. By guiding and leading, choices are made, e.g., returning to home having a key and opening a door; also challenges are faced on a day-to-day basis.

SENSE is able to support 5,000 people. It provides holidays and issues 'communicator guides'.

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Not all requirements are provided '“ council funding is limited. Homes are managed and internal dcor is decided by patients. Regularly calling upon registered deafblind is encouraged, with limited trained personnel.

Concern is always for the individual '“ early assessment with children and helping elderly with communication. Concerning service within the family, children are encouraged to be included in mainstream education. Outreach workers as assessors are paramount in providing 'communicator guides'. Reference to accommodation choices is that every endeavour is made to keep people within a known area of family/friends. College courses are attended. Employment is sought, e.g. supermarkets.

To ensure work is strengthened, continuous donations are ever increasingly important. SENSE as a charity has been in existence since 1955. Tactile games, art, block alphabet and signing language are all activities undertaken. There is interaction with the R.N.I.D. and dialogue is in process of development with ex-servicemen's organisations.

Rotarian Peter Stiles spoke of human beings being unable to conceive how terrifying the loss of sight and hearing must be. A child with deafness or blindness touched the hearts of all with compassion. SENSE offered a tremendous service and gave invaluable support within communities. President Nigel Faulkner presented a cheque as a contribution towards ongoing work in communities.

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