Sense

Approximately 95% of the information we receive about the world is received through our eyes and ears. So those with limited vision and hearing face huge daily challenges.
For deafblind people living as independent adults and even simple things like getting around, or communicating with those they love can seem almost impossible. But given the right support deafblind people can develop their talents, making the most of their abilities to live fulfilling lives.

Sense has worked with deafblind people for over 50 years. During this time we have developed a worldwide reputation for our pioneering work and extended our specialist personalized services.
We help deafblind children and their families and increasingly as our population is ageing we help growing numbers of people who are becoming deafblind through old age. Up to 242,000 people over the age of 75 in the UK may be deafblind through losing their sight and hearing due to old age.

Deafblindness is a combination of both hearing and vision impairments. A few deafblind people are completely deaf and blind, but most have some use of a little of their sight or hearing. At Sense we try to help deafblind people make the most their senses of touch, taste and smell and to explore what little sight or hearing they may have.

Below you'll find a selection of the gifts available through these websites - whether you're buying from a wedding list that a couple has registered with The Alternative Wedding List or buying someone an individual 'virtual' gift for their birthday from gifts4good do consider supporting Sense.

	Gift	Description	Price
		A tactile book This donation could cover the cost of a tactile book to develop a child's sense of sight and touch at a Sense Family Centre.	£15.00
		An hour for independence This donation could cover the cost of a support worker who will be the eyes and ears of an older deafblind person, enabling them to remain independent by helping with the shopping, visiting the post office or a trip to church.	£20.00
		An interactive light tube This donation could cover the cost of buying an interactive light tube to help stimulate a deafblind child's remaining sight.	£25.00
		Chocolate-making This donation could enable us to pay for a group of deafblind children to stimulate their senses of smell, touch and taste through chocolate-making on their Sense holiday.	£30.00
		Pony riding This donation could cover the costs of a group of deafblind children delighting in the unique sensations of pony riding on their Sense holiday.	£50.00
		Shake, rattle and drum-roll This gift could pay for a selection of musical instruments that will help to stimulate the hearing of deafblind children in music therapy sessions.	£75.00
		Support for a month Older deafblind people need help to read and pay the bills, go on shopping trips, or visit the doctors. Your gift could give a deafblind person vital support once a week for an entire month.	£100.00
		A day sailing For a child who has no sight or hearing life can too easily become routine with few things to remember fondly. Your gift could enable a deafblind child to experience an activity they would never dream possible and that they'll never forget, like a day of sailing.	£150.00
		Sensory trail Without sight or hearing living independently, using appliances safely, or moving around the home without bumping into furniture is hard. This gift could cover the cost of a tactile trail for the home of a deafblind person enabling them to live in comfort.	£250.00