16 Aug Braintree resident backs new sensory loss awareness campaign following “life-changing” support
Leah Jackman, aged 38 from Braintree, is hard of hearing and completely lost her sight in 2018 due to diabetic retinopathy. After receiving help and a dramatic boost in confidence from the Essex Sensory Community, Leah is backing the group’s new campaign to empower Essex residents with sight, hearing or dual sensory loss to reach out for support.
Essex Sensory Community is a collaboration between ECL, who provide comprehensive care services to thousands across Essex, and six partner organisations: BASIS (Blind and Sight Impaired Society), Deafblind UK, Essex Sight, Hearing Help Essex, RAD (Royal Association for Deaf People), and Support 4 Sight. Their collective mission is to elevate Essex as a sensory-friendly county where those with sensory impairments are empowered to live their lives to the full.
Leah said: “Once I completely lost my sight, I was too anxious to go outside or open the door. Even when collecting the post I’d be a shaking mess. A social worker put me in touch with ECL Sensory Service and everything changed.”
ECL and the Essex Sensory Community partners arranged for handrails and portable doorbell receivers to be fitted in Leah’s house to help her navigate safely and hear the doorbell around her home, and showed her how to use a Penfriend to identify labelled products. The team also provided 1-2-1 cane training to improve Leah’s confidence walking outside and taking her daughter to school.
Leah added: “I live on a main road and that first step out was absolutely terrifying. There was so much noise from traffic and people, it felt almost claustrophobic to be outside. Having someone with me saying every three paces, ‘it’s fine, you’re doing great, a dip in the curb is coming up…’ was what kept me going. They were so kind and spent the first couple of sessions just getting to know me, making it clear I was in the driver’s seat. I never felt rushed to walk anywhere before I was comfortable.
“I would definitely recommend ECL and especially Support 4 Sight for all that they did in helping me get my confidence back. You think that your world has ended…you think, that’s it – how am I going to do all these things that I used to do? I have since undertaken further cane training with them, and even to this day, years after my initial training, they still check in with me. It’s a wonderful service that I’d recommend to anyone.”
ECL Sensory Service acts as the front door for enquires to the Essex Sensory Community, offering a streamlined referral process that makes it easy for people to access the support they need.
The Essex Sensory Community recently launched a new campaign, ‘This Community Can,’ on July 11 to coincide with Essex Sensory Awareness Week.
Faye Harburt, Head of ECL Sensory Service, said: “The purpose of ‘This Community Can’ is to raise awareness of the support available to those living with sight, hearing or dual sensory loss in Essex. We want to empower people just like Leah to live their lives to the fullest with increased independence.
“We’re reaching out to families, GPs, and professionals working with the public. If you know someone who has a sensory impairment and you think they could benefit from our support or advice, then they can contact us.”
If you or someone you know could benefit from ESC’s services, contact:
Email: SensoryServices@essexcares.org Telephone: 03330 133 262 SMS: 07921 397 547 Or visit: https://www.ecl.org/services/sensory-service
