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Luca’s story
Sense started helping Luca from the day he was born. He was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called CHARGE that affects his ability to see, hear and balance. His parents, Faye and Ben, were terrified Luca wouldn’t be able to communicate, or enjoy things that other children do.
Learning to communicate
For children like Luca, with limited vision and hearing, communication has to be taught and learnt, and that takes time, patience and expertise. Sense helped Luca begin to associate signs, objects and sounds with ideas, things and actions. One of the first techniques Anne, his Sense Children and Family Support Worker, used is called ‘hand-under-hand’ communication, where she rests Luca’s hand on hers and they make signs together. This approach gives children like Luca control – they can take their hand away at any time – and the freedom to learn at their own pace.
Learning to make music
Knowing some signs helps Luca, to get more out of the thing he loves most in the world – music. And now, thanks to the time Sense has been able to spend with him, Luca’s not just enjoying music, he’s making it too – he loves nothing more than to sign and sing along to his favourite songs at our Sensory Explorers group.
Why your support matters
The sooner Sense starts working with a child, the more we can help them develop and learn to communicate. But it takes a lot of time, patience and commitment.
Your support means
- We can help children like Luca learn to communicate with those they love.
- We can run specialist pre-school groups at Sense Family Centres, so children like Luca can learn through sensory stories, music therapy and messy play.
With your support, we can be there for every child who needs us.