Community support
One-to-one support to help you communicate and live your daily life.
Living with a disability shouldn’t mean that your life can’t be just as independent, interesting and social as anybody else’s.
That’s why Sense supports disabled people in their communities, to live the life they choose. Whether it’s doing your weekly shop, or making friends at a social club, our support workers are here for you.
Who can get community support from Sense?
Sense provides support workers to help people who are deafblind, have multi-sensory impairment or have complex disabilities.
Complex disabilities could mean that you have two or more of the following:
- Sensory impairment
- Learning disability
- Physical disability
- Autism
This isn’t an exhaustive list. Not sure if our support is right for you or your loved one? Speak to a member of our team to find out more about who we support.
How Sense supports people who are deafblind
Sense supports adults who are deafblind to live independent lives as part of their community. There are two main types of support we offer:
Communicator guides
Sense communicator guides support adults with acquired deafblindness or multi-sensory impairment. This means that your hearing or vision loss developed later in life, not at birth.
Acquired deafblindness can make many people feel isolated. Sense communicator guides are here to help you connect, and feel part of your community.
They can do things like:
- Give you practical help with day-to-day tasks like shopping.
- Help you with taking emails or calls.
- Set up medical appointments for you.
- Act as an interpreter as you chat and spend time with others.
Communicator guides will also listen to your goals and aspirations, and work with you to achieve them. Their role is to support you to do all the things you want to do – because your life is yours to live!
You could be referred for a communicator guide by a local service, or refer yourself. Get in touch with our team to find out more.
“The communicator guide is basically the part of you that doesn’t quite work. For me, they guide me about and they are my eyes.
Person supported by Sense
They get you out doing things that you don’t necessarily get the chance to do very often, or at all sometimes.
Having the communicator guide service has made me more open to try new things.”
Intervenors
Intervenors work with children and adults who were born deafblind, often with other complex needs. Together with you and your family, they help you to develop a way of communicating.
Intervenors can support you both at home and in your community. This could include:
- Practical help with day-to-day tasks like shopping.
- Help with taking emails or calls.
- Setting up medical appointments for you.
- Acting as an interpreter as you chat with others.
Intervenors also take a bigger role in helping your personal and social development. They work together with schools, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and social workers to make sure your care plan is right for you.
You could be referred for an intervenor by a local service, or refer yourself. Get in touch with our team to find out more.
Would you like support from Sense?
Get in touch to find out more about our individual support for people who are deafblind or have complex disabilities.