Sense Northern Ireland

Sense provides a comprehensive range of services for deafblind children and adults in Northern Ireland. The services are designed to meet individual and community needs.

We can advise on conditions, services, aids and adaptations, and also offer advice and information to professionals, family members, and carers. Sense also has a comprehensive training programme that can be delivered to interested groups and organisations.

How we help
With staff based in County Antrim in Northern Ireland, we offer facilities, resources and timetables that ensure that a deafblind person’s requirements, interests and aspirations are met by highly skilled teams in supportive environments.

Family Centre, Mallusk
A specialist early intervention pre-school nursery with tailored developmental programmes in a fun and friendly environment.

Also the base for an Out of Schools project that provides children with opportunities to enjoy a range of stimulating leisure activities while providing respite for families.

Outreach Service
Available to children and their families. Our Outreach service offers expert assessments and specialist advice and information. Staff also work with parents and carers to devise, implement, review or adjust developmental programmes. This team has three members of staff including a member funded by the Western Health and Social Care Trust offering a specific service to families in that area.

Residential Home, Carrickfergus
A dedicated team provides round-the-clock support for 10 deafblind adult residents in our Sense home. It offers high staffing ratios and a support structure that enables residents to enjoy new experiences, make informed choices, develop new skills and live as independently as possible.

Meadowbank Resource Centre, Carrickfergus
A specialist day centre offers deafblind people the opportunity to enjoy new experiences and develop a wide range of skills both within the centre and the wider community. The centre has a flexible placement programme.

Facilities include a computer suite, art room, relaxation and multi-sensory rooms and training kitchen, with activities ranging from woodwork, IT and swimming.

Placements are funded via local trust contracts, Independent Living Fund, personalised budgets or self-funding.

Domiciliary Support Service
Community-based services for adults offers one-to-one support to individuals in their own homes. The service maintains independence and promotes the development of skills and is often used by individuals with acquired dual-sensory loss as a result of injury, illness or infirmity. Our domiciliary service provides help with household tasks or shopping, or to access leisure or community activities.

Personal Support Service
Staff work with individuals and their families to identify a range of enjoyable local leisure activities in which a deafblind person can participate and be supported.

Forums - Carrickfergus and Londonderry / Derry
Our forums enable older people with acquired dual-sensory loss to share their experience of deafblindness, practical tips and advice, and articulate their needs as individuals or as a group.

The forums provide the chance to relax and have a bit of craic (chat or banter) in a safe and supportive environment.

Plans are also underway to increase the number of forums throughout Northern Ireland and develop a regional forum for individuals with Usher syndrome.

For further details or information on any of our services please contact:

Sense Northern Ireland
The Manor House
51 Mallusk Road
Newtownabbey
BT36 4RU
Northern Ireland

Tel: 028 9083 3430
Textphone: 028 9083 3430
Fax: 028 9084 4232
Email: nienquiries@sense.org. uk

Sense provides a comprehensive range of services for deafblind children and adults in Northern Ireland. The services are designed to meet individual and community needs.

We can advise on conditions, services, aids and adaptations, and also offer advice and information to professionals, family members, and carers. Sense also has a comprehensive training programme that can be delivered to interested groups and organisations.

How we help
With staff based in County Antrim in Northern Ireland, we offer facilities, resources and timetables that ensure that a deafblind person’s requirements, interests and aspirations are met by highly skilled teams in supportive environments.

Family Centre, Mallusk
A specialist early intervention pre-school nursery with tailored developmental programmes in a fun and friendly environment.

Also the base for an Out of Schools project that provides children with opportunities to enjoy a range of stimulating leisure activities while providing respite for families.

Outreach Service
Available to children and their families. Our Outreach service offers expert assessments and specialist advice and information. Staff also work with parents and carers to devise, implement, review or adjust developmental programmes. This team has three members of staff including a member funded by the Western Health and Social Care Trust offering a specific service to families in that area.

Residential Home, Carrickfergus
A dedicated team provides round-the-clock support for 10 deafblind adult residents in our Sense home. It offers high staffing ratios and a support structure that enables residents to enjoy new experiences, make informed choices, develop new skills and live as independently as possible.

Meadowbank Resource Centre, Carrickfergus
A specialist day centre offers deafblind people the opportunity to enjoy new experiences and develop a wide range of skills both within the centre and the wider community. The centre has a flexible placement programme.

Facilities include a computer suite, art room, relaxation and multi-sensory rooms and training kitchen, with activities ranging from woodwork, IT and swimming.

Placements are funded via local trust contracts, Independent Living Fund, personalised budgets or self-funding.

Domiciliary Support Service
Community-based services for adults offers one-to-one support to individuals in their own homes. The service maintains independence and promotes the development of skills and is often used by individuals with acquired dual-sensory loss as a result of injury, illness or infirmity. Our domiciliary service provides help with household tasks or shopping, or to access leisure or community activities.

Personal Support Service
Staff work with individuals and their families to identify a range of enjoyable local leisure activities in which a deafblind person can participate and be supported.

Forums - Carrickfergus and Londonderry / Derry
Our forums enable older people with acquired dual-sensory loss to share their experience of deafblindness, practical tips and advice, and articulate their needs as individuals or as a group.

The forums provide the chance to relax and have a bit of craic (chat or banter) in a safe and supportive environment.

Plans are also underway to increase the number of forums throughout Northern Ireland and develop a regional forum for individuals with Usher syndrome.

For further details or information on any of our services please contact:

Sense Northern Ireland
The Manor House
51 Mallusk Road
Newtownabbey
BT36 4RU
Northern Ireland

Tel: 028 9083 3430
Textphone: 028 9083 3430
Fax: 028 9084 4232
Email: nienquiries@sense.org. uk