The social care system provides support to disabled and older people to enable them to live independent lives.

For deafblind people this means support to enable them to be part of their community. This support can include communicator guides, intervenors, equipment and mobility training. This makes the difference between living an active and healthy life or being isolated, cut off from the local community.

There is general agreement that the social care system is not working. The UK and Welsh Governments are completely reviewing the social care systems separately in both England and Wales, which will change the way deafblind people get support.

It is essential that the new system works for deafblind people of all ages, and Sense will be working hard to ensure that the changes have a positive, not negative, impact on deafblind people.

Social care must provide people with the ability to get out of the house, have a social life, make a meaningful contribution to society through work or other activity and lead a healthy lifestyle. Without this it is hard for deafblind people to look after their physical and mental health and contribute to the community.

Deafblind people need assessment and services that recognise their specialist needs. Providing this support early saves money by preventing people’s physical and mental health deteriorating.

As the changes make progress through Parliament and the Welsh Assembly, Sense will be working hard to ensure that deafblind people’s voices are heard in the debate and their needs are taken into account. You can support this by joining our Walk with Me campaign.

More information about the issues for deafblind people in social care.