Learning disability

 Levels of sensory loss vary from person to person and will range from mild to profound. Identifying individual needs is crucial in ensuring that this impairment is recognised.

An assessment can be carried out by a Visual Impairment Rehabilitation Officer or a Sensory Services worker or by a specialist agency or charity. The assessment can identify a wide range of needs and inform you of what services are available to help.

For more information or to request an assessment, visit www.northamptonshire. gov.uk/adultsocialcare and search ‘Sensory impairment’. Alternatively, contact your local council’s Customer Service Centre. See page 5.

Northamptonshire Association for the Blind (NAB)

As Northamptonshire’s only local sight loss charity, NAB provides advice, support and products to help improve the lives of visually impaired people. It does this through empathy, experience and expertise. 37 Harborough Road, Northampton NN2 7BB Helpline: 01604 719193 (Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm). • Email: helpline@nab.org.uk Web: www.nab.org.uk Twitter: @nab_northants Facebook: @nabnorthants Instagram: @local_sight_support

Deafconnect

If you are deaf and hard of hearing at any age, Deafconnect will support you to be independent and a fully included member of your community.

Spencer Dallington Community Centre, Tintern Avenue, Northampton NN5 7BZ Tel: 01604 589011 Text: 07813 006813 or 07813 006811 Email: general@deafconnect.org.uk Web: www.deafconnect.org.uk

The Learning Disability Team at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust works with adults and children with learning disabilities who have complex health care needs. The Trust’s goals are to ensure that their healthcare objectives are met by providing specialist assessment and intervention for those who have complex physical or mental health needs or who display challenging behaviours.

For more information about the Trust’s offer for those with learning disabilities, visit

www.nhft.nhs.uk/learning-disabilities

The following services are also available for those who have had a Care Act assessment and have been assessed as having eligible support needs. Where someone has needs that should be met by their local council, it will, in the first instance, consider how their needs could be supported by their family and the local community.

Assistive technology

Including travel training products, technology to assist with everyday life, personal alarms and GPS locators. For more information, see page 10.

EADS (Employment and Disability Service) and LIVE (Learning, Independence, Volunteering and Employment)

EADS provides employment support for people with a learning or physical disability in Northamptonshire. LIVE provides day services for people with a learning or physical disability in Northamptonshire. Visit

www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/adultsocialcare

and search ‘Employment and Disability Service’.

Complex and challenging behaviour services

Offers day services to support adults with learning disabilities and challenging behaviours at Gladstone Centre, Northampton and Henley Centre, Kettering. Visit

www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/adultsocialcare

and search ‘Complex and challenging behaviours’.

Social and leisure

Giving people with a learning or physical disability the opportunity to pursue interests out and about in Northamptonshire. They’re great places to make