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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 if called Makaton, a simplified form of sign language, at the earliest opportunity. Luca had a lot of injections in his hands when he was in hospital, so didn’t like to be touched. But over time, Anne discovered he loved the vibrations and beat of music – and that’s been the key to helping him communicate.

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 cover the costs for the specialist one-on-one help a child needs, as well as equipment to stimulate their senses.
• During the pandemic, we have found new ways to continue to be there for families, on the phone or via a screen, ensuring their development does not have to be hindered.

With your support, we can be there for every child who needs us.