Help from multi-sensory impairment (MSI) specialists
Extra support from MSI teachers and practitioners for anyone up to the age of 25
To find out more about the personal support we can offer you and your child, get in touch.
We offer extra support for young people with:
- Deafblindness, or
- Multi-sensory impairment, or
- A single sensory impairment (hearing or vision impairment), with another disability.
If this describes your child, get in touch with our team to find out how we can support you.
Our package of support will depend on exactly what your child needs. Among the options we might be able to offer are:
- A dedicated support worker to advise you.
- Help with learning how to play and communicate with your child during their early years.
- Support during the education, health and care plan (EHCP) process and at hospital appointments.
- Supporting letters and reports to help you navigate school, hospital and social care systems.
- Access to our groups, events and activities; full of messy play, music and sensory exploration.
- Online parent wellbeing sessions, community group and newsletter.
We also offer play services for children 0-8 with complex disabilities.
“We struggled to come up with appropriate activities for Zach. Sense’s online sessions made such a difference. We noticed Zach loved hearing the other children laugh, which was a huge turning point.”
Jemma, whose son Zach is supported by Sense
Stories from young people we support
“Learning signs has helped Luca and his family to communicate”
Anne, who works for Sense, has been working closely with Luca and his family since the day he was born. He had just been diagnosed with CHARGE syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects his ability to see, hear and balance.
Anne says: “I’ve learnt in my 26 years at Sense that the sooner we start working with a child, the more we can help them develop and learn to communicate. One of the first techniques I used is called hand-under-hand communication, where I rest Luca’s hand on mine, and we make signs together. I would also sign to Luca, using British Sign Language or Makaton. Over time, Luca began to associate signs, objects and sounds with ideas, things and actions. He was communicating!”
“Nowadays, Tilly is very playful”
Six-year-old Tilly is supported by Sense, and has a rare chromosome disorder causing poor vision, hearing loss and learning difficulties.
Her mum, Louise, says: “When we first started going to Sense Woodside as a family, Tilly wasn’t able to participate in the sessions, and she loved lying on the floor and looking at the bright lights. But going to the sessions had such a positive impact on us as a family because we suddenly found ourselves with people who knew what we were going through.
“It’s been amazing to work with the Sense team to develop Tilly’s communication. Before, she couldn’t communicate with us but Caitlin, a Sense Children and Family Support Worker, is supporting Tilly to learn to sign.”
“Sense understood Archie”
Kate’s son Archie is now 21. He’s been supported by Sense for most of his life, and still comes on Sense Holidays with us today.
Kate says: “We had our first visit from one of the Sense children and family support workers in January 2003. She played with Archie and watched him closely. That moment changed Archie’s life. The report that she wrote (which I still have) meant that he had to be taught by qualified staff. When she finished her report, she told us that it was important he was identified as deafblind.”
“Every child has the right to an education”
Laura is one of our specialist Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI) teachers, based in Manchester. She supports deafblind children in schools to reach their full potential.
She says: “When families first come to Sense, they can feel really overwhelmed by a new diagnosis and the challenges of navigating the world of SEND. Learning about multi-sensory impairment is something families often need support with, and this is where our skills are most needed.”
Do you need support?
We’re here to offer free, practical advice to any parents of children who are deafblind.