Early support can make a big difference to the impact a sensory loss has on a person’s life. The Sensory team in Wigan provides personalised support to adults experiencing hearing loss, sight loss, or dual sensory loss. Our aim is to help people stay independent, improve wellbeing, and access services they need. We also offer support finding new ways of dealing with the practical and emotional difficulties that come with sensory loss.
We offer:
- Individual assessments and rehabilitation support
- Specialist equipment and home adaptations
- Mobility training for people with sight loss to increase confidence in accessing the community
- Information, advice, and signposting for employment, training, and volunteering opportunities
- Advocacy through relevant groups and organisations
- Information, advice, and signposting to help access available concessions and benefits
- Communication support.
There is no cost for any equipment or minor adaptations provided by the Sensory team. If you need any major adaptations (costing over £1000), there may be a charge. For more information about the process, visit equipment and adaptations.
We may also signpost you to other services or organisations who can support with sight loss or where you can purchase your own equipment.
Assessments
We offer a range of assessment options to understand your needs and identify the best support for you, including:
- Clinic appointments
- Telephone assessments
- Home-based assessments.
We can also provide information and advice about other services or organisations that may be able to help.
Information and advice
Our Ask Sara app (external link) is an on-line self-help tool which allows you to source your own solution quickly. It provides tips, advice and guidance including available support. It is really easy to use. All you need to do is to answer a few simple questions about the support you need.
If Ask Sara indicates you would benefit from a full assessment of your needs or if you would like an assessment, our Sensory team can support you with this.
Support for people with sight loss
Once your assessment is complete, our team may suggest different types of support to help you manage daily tasks. This may include:
- Practical support with making drinks and meals. We might provide equipment to help you identify when your cup is full, or to identify temperatures and timers on your cooker or microwave
- Advice on how to access written information. This could include using technology
- Building your confidence to move safely around your home
- Outdoor mobility training to help you access and move around your community with confidence.
Additional help, advice and support for sight loss
Registration of sight loss
If the eye consultant at the hospital decides your sight loss is significant, they will give you a certificate of visual impairment (CVI). This will say whether you are sight impaired or severely sight impaired. A copy of your certificate will be sent to us.
Once we receive it, our Sensory team will contact you to talk about your sight loss and ask if you want to be added to our sensory register. The register is confidential, and your details will not be shared. Registration is your choice, and choosing not to register will not affect the support you can receive. The Sensory team will also discuss whether an assessment of your needs would be helpful.
Advantages of registration
Joining the local authority register can make it easier to get help and support.
Benefits include:
- Personalised support: We can offer advice, specialist equipment, and practical help based on your needs
- Easier access to benefits: Being registered can make it easier to apply for things like discounted travel, cheaper TV licences, and welfare benefits
- Help from the Sensory team: You may be able to get services such as mobility training, home adaptations, and other support
- Official recognition: Registration is formal proof of your sight loss, which can help protect your rights at work and in the community
- Information and signposting: We can put you in touch with organisations and groups that offer support.
Support for people with hearing loss
Once your assessment is complete, our team may recommend different ways to support you with daily tasks. This might include:
- Providing alerts, such as a flashing doorbell, for when someone visits your home. This might be friends, family, carers, or medication deliveries
- Enabling you to enjoy your hobbies such as hearing the television or listening to music
- Support with social interaction including having a telephone conversation
- Any other possible solutions to reduce barriers caused through your hearing loss.
Additional help, advice and support for hearing loss
Interpreter and Deaf community support
We work with Bolton Deaf Society to deliver Wigan Deaf services:
- Sign language interpreters for appointments (e.g. doctors, dentist, opticians, midwife, job interviews)
- Communication support for events and meetings
- Lip speakers and other support professionals.
We also offer advocacy support through our Wigan Deaf services via a drop-in service, every Monday at Hindley Library 9:30am to 1pm. Representatives from Bolton Deaf Society who use British sign language (BSL), will be on hand to support you with any issues, including:
- Support to interpret any correspondence including letters and bills
- Support to access tradesperson/s for example a plumber or electrician
- Support with benefits, employment, and training.
To access the service, you will need to:
- Be a person who is Deaf or uses British sign language (BSL)
- Have a problem you need support with
- Live in the Wigan Borough.
Contact our team with a brief description of your issue and we will get you the support you need.
- Call 07543 221800
- Email Bolton Deaf Society
- To contact the Deaf First Responder Service out of hours call 07386 660814.
General enquiries
For general enquiries or information and advice, please contact the Sensory team (external link)or ring 01942 828787.
Request a sensory assessment