Deafblind people have specific needs related to their dual sensory loss. The Deafblind Guidance recognises that deafblind people may not be able to access mainstream services, or services for people with a single sensory loss, and that they may need services specifically designed for people with dual sensory loss. This includes access to one to one support, where needed, such as communicator guides, intervenors or interpreters.

Sense will want to ensure that this is also recognised in the new laws in England and Wales. Increasingly local authorities are moving away from specialist services towards generic social work teams who work with all groups, and providing one to one support through PAs (personal assistants) with no training in communication. Whilst this may work for some deafblind people it needs to be clear that they are entitled to a specialist service where one is needed.

The Law Commission report makes specific reference to services for deafblind people:

"it is important that adult social care services should help service users to take part in society, for example through the provision of communicator guides for deafblind people...".

The Deafblind Guidance saw a 60 per cent increase in five years of the numbers of deafblind people provided with communicator guide services and Sense will be working to ensure this recognition of the need for specialist services is included in the new law.

The cost of specialist support

Specialist trained support is often more expensive than a generic PA service, and it is essential that deafblind people receive sufficient funding for their service to enable them to receive a suitable support.

Many local authorities in England now calculate a person’s budget using a self assessment questionnaire. The amount a person is allocated in this system depends on the questions asked.

In many cases, aspects of support important to deafblind people are not included, or receive a weighting much lower than personal care support. Sense will want to see the principle that a person should receive sufficient support to meet their eligible needs included in the new law.