Unit 1 Sensory Impairment

The first step in supporting people with a sensory impairment appropriately is to identify them. Local authorities should put in place a process to understand the prevalence of sensory loss in their populations to inform commissioning and market shaping functions. They should also have in place systems to record the number of people known to them.
In identifying people with sensory impairment it is important to have in mind that:
• There is a high prevalence of sensory loss amongst older people.
• People with an autism spectrum condition, and learning disability are likely to have a sensory impairment, which is often not identified.
Steps that help in identifying sensory impairment can include: Staff working in care homes and day care
• It is important to establish which communication method the person prefers at the earliest possible stage to allow time to source the appropriate interpreter or communication support. This includes providing information and advice in accessible formats, such as large print, audio, electronic or Braille.
• Thought should be given to how deaf people can be supported in their preferred language. The Royal Association for Deaf people has created a Deaf Aware Care quality mark for residential care providers to support providers to make adjustments to ensure Deaf people receive the support they need.
• Providers should offer people choice of communication methods and not assume if a person is registered deaf that they use British Sign Language (BSL) or that a blind person reads Braille.
Local authorities must ensure information and advice services have due regard to the needs of people with sensory impairments. This includes ensuring websites conform to accessible information standards and people have information in a language that they
• Make information available in a range of accessible formats such as: - Symbols - Widgets - Pictorial - Braille - Large print - Audio - Electronic - British Sign Language (BSL) - Bold print.
• Ensure those providing information have the necessary skills and knowledge about accessible formats.
• Ensure accessibility is considered at the start when designing websites.
• Ensure all services have access to BSL interpreters where needed, either in person or by video link.
• Understand the different types of interpreter that may be needed.
• Support people to develop new skills for accessing information and communication.
For people who are Deaf or Deafblind, do not have any reading skills can communicate using pictures. This empowers people to have control over decisions about their own life. As people’s communication methods vary you must make sure you are using the right combination of communication methods to ensure the most successful forms of contact, information exchange and conversation.
Trained staff encourage people to achieve their aspirations by making full use of their communicative