Our Sensory Impairment Team offers a range of supports to people who have a hearing or visual impairment. We will accept referrals from you, a family member, your optician or a health/social care professional.
If you have attended the eye clinic at your local hospital and have been certified blind or partially sighted, your hospital will normally contact us to register your visual impairment. We have a legal requirement to maintain a register for people with visual impairments living in East Ayrshire. There are a number of benefits to registration, and these will be discussed with you fully following your initial referral.
Once a referral has been made, a member of our Sensory Impairment Team will contact you to assess your needs.
Once an assessment has been carried out, a care plan will be completed.
A range of supports and services can be offered at this point, which may include:
- the provision of specialist equipment to help you to maintain as much independence in your daily life as possible
- information and advice on all aspects of visual/hearing impairment, including directing or referring you to other agencies who provide services.
- information on what welfare benefits you may be entitled to
- training in areas such as communication; independent living; orientation and mobility and sign language interpreting
Alternatively you may decide to receive a direct payment which would mean receiving money from us to enable you to purchase support services rather than receiving a service from the Council.
If you, or someone you know would like more information or to make a referral, please contact your local social work office.
Sensory impairment help and support
Please find below a list of services currently operating to provide support for people with sensory impairments.
East Ayrshire Council Sensory Impairment Team
This service is for people with a visual, hearing or dual sensory impairment and includes British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation. We can provide information, telephone support, assessment and equipment provision.
- Telephone: 01563 554200 (option 1 - request sensory impairment team)
- Text/phone: 07990 084500
- British Sign Language Interpreter, Telephone: 07919 625963
- Email: HSCPCustomerFirst@east-ayrshire.gov.uk
Sensory Impairment Support Group Ayrshire (SISG)
Find your nearest sensory impaired support services across Ayrshire:
SISG can help with:
- hearing aid maintenance
- providing support for NHS hearing aid users, including batteries and re-tubing
- regular emotional support phone service
Please contact:
Denise McLung, Project Manager
Telephone: 01292 266791
Email: Denise@sisg.co.uk
Further information and self help videos for hearing aid maintenance can be found on the SISG website: Sensory Impaired Support Group: Self Management.
Emergency text service to 999
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired, you can send an SMS text message to 999. Registration is required prior to use.
Please register on the EmergencySMS website.
Ayrshire deaf education service
The Ayrshire Deaf Education Service supports the needs of hearing impaired children and their families from diagnosis until school leaving age.
Visual impairment team
The Visual Impairment Team provides support for children and young people from birth to 18 years with a wide range of visual impairments which impacts on day to day living and access to the curriculum.