A survey of 91 local authorities by Sense has found a startling lack of services for deafblind children (who have both sight and hearing impairments). This is despite it being the seventh anniversary of guidance placing legal obligations on councils to provide support. Sense has compiled a report (pdf, 87kb) on the dire situation to coincide with Deafblind Awareness Week 2008 (23 -29 June).
The charity found that 66% of deafblind children have not even been identified by their local authorities, which is the crucial first step in providing appropriate support. Almost half of those deafblind children that have been identified still haven’t had their needs assessed by a specialist worker. The report also highlighted that over 75% of deafblind children identified are not receiving one-to-one support outside school.
Lucy Drescher, Campaigns Officer at Sense commented: “Deafblind children are invisible to local authorities and are being denied key support services which they are legally entitled to. In some regions as few as 2% of the estimated number of deafblind children have been identified. In some areas the only support they get is in school. This means they are excluded from leisure activities most children take for granted or parents are forced to be their support workers.”
Sense is calling for key recommendations to improve services for deafblind children. These are:
- That Ofsted review deafblind children’s services ; in particular the number of specialist assessments currently being given and the availability of appropriate after school services.
- A senior manager is appointed in each Local Authority who is responsible for deafblind services. They must ensure they are complying with the guidance, particularly in service provision outside school.
Carol Thomas, the mother of a deafblind child says:
“We waited for 14 months for a deafblind guidance assessment and it was such a frustrating time as it had been made a legal requirement at the time. Jamie’s assessment made an immediate difference. They offered me direct payments to allow for leisure time. It gives us respite and most of all, it became Jamie’s own time and became the highlight of his week.”
Sense has also set up an online campaign on its website which you can sign demanding that Local Authorities stop ignoring the needs of deafblind children - www.sense.org.uk/makechildrencount.
Download and view Sense's report in PDF format (87kb) or accessible format (text, 8kb),
For case studies or an interview contact the Sense Press Office.
