Sensory Awareness Training is a fantastic way to show people that you take support for people with sensory loss seriously. It also demonstrates to people with a hearing or sight condition that yours is an organisation they can engage with confidently.
The Deaf community, in particular, is very close-knit and will regularly recommend shops, restaurants and outings that they feel welcome and safe in.
Similarly, for people with sight loss, visiting new places can be very worrying. Like any new customer, first impressions count but for someone with sight loss, it sometimes only takes a few small adjustments to demonstrate you understand the specific needs of individuals to make them feel welcome.
Sensory Awareness Training can take place at our Centre or at your place of business. We have successfully trained a number of different organisations including Solicitors for Older People Scotland, Edinburgh Printmakers, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) Engine Shed, King Tut's, Dunblane Hydro and First Bus (First Midland Bluebird). As a result of the training, organisations made changes to procedures and garnered positive feedback as a result. We have also provided awareness training for staff in Next Homestore and Tesco Falkirk.
A session typically lasts for 2.5-3 hours. Content covers legislation, statistical background, factual information on hearing and sight loss, practical activities to simulate sensory loss, and hints and tips for communicating with people with sensory loss.
A training session with Forth Valley Sensory Centre outlines how sensory loss impacts on daily life and what organisations and individuals can do to make adjustments to meet the needs of people with sensory loss.
We invite people with lived experience of sensory loss to input to the course whenever possible. Our sessions make reference to the Equality Act and take a Human Rights-based approach to ensure the session focuses on what reasonable adjustments can be made so that people with sensory loss can access goods and services on an equal basis.
Activities are fun and interactive which promotes team building and can be tailored to the needs of the organisation. At the end of a session, participants will have a better understanding of inclusive approaches to delivering services and will have gained some practical understanding of how to meet the needs of people with sensory loss.
If you would like to find out more about Sensory Awareness Training, please contact The Centre on sensory@forthvalleysensorycentre.org or on 01324 90888.