Devon Sensory Team
Devon Sensory Team - What we do
We give information and advice:
- by answering public enquiries face-to-face
- by telephone, including textphone
- by fax, e-mail and letters
- by visits to Resource Centres and the Mobile Resource Unit
- at cultural centres, such as Deaf Clubs
- in social groups, such as clubs for visually impaired people
- by use of this web site
- by producing publications in formats such as Braille, large print, on tape or on computer disk.
We take referrals direct from:
- the public, including from carers, relatives, friends and neighbours
- other professionals, such as health, education, environmental health and other social services staff
- voluntary agencies
We assess how to meet your needs:
While everyone can get information and advice from us, we also assess your situation and decide how best to meet your needs - this may be through our own services or from other sources of support. We will check what kind of help you need, examples include whether you need:
- any specific equipment, such as a telephone with amplifier and/or large buttons, to help resolve daily living problems
- help with communication, or to get around (such as mobility and orientation training).
Our assessments include the everyday needs of children and adults, both in relation to sensory difficulties and those relating to the ability to live safely and independently.
We provide services:
We help people experiencing the effects of vision and/or hearing loss, both from birth or acquired in later life. We do this by providing a wide range of specialist services, for which we will have assessed your eligibility.
These services include:
- training in independent living skills, such as cooking, getting around in and out of your home (indoor and outdoor mobility training)
- counselling and therapeutic work
- advocacy
- training in communication skills, such as use of textphones and reading Braille
- advice on communications services, such as sign language interpreters
- sensory awareness training, for the public and other professionals
- providing access to a wide range of equipment such as talking books, large print labels and markers, visual, audible and tactile alarms etc
- support to carers
- benefits advice and help with claims
- Registration as Blind, Partially Sighted, Deaf and Hearing Impaired
- liaising with and supporting voluntary agencies, including those engaged in service user consultation
