Sensory Awareness Training and Accessibility Audits

Sensory Awareness Training

We deliver in person training aimed at raising awareness of sight and hearing impairments.  Training like this can help your business meet the needs of people with a sensory impairment using practical simulation exercises to increase empathy and understanding.

Our half day training is enjoyable and interactive and receives consistently positive feedback from attendees across a wide range of businesses.  Check out our testimonials below.

Sensory awareness training can be delivered at our Head Office in York or we can travel to a location to suit you.  If you have specific requirements we are happy to make our training bespoke to your organisation, please contact us to discuss your individual preferences or to book a place.

Click here to watch the video with BSL

What you will learn:

• An overview of visual impairment covering the main eye conditions and the impact this can have on an individual.
• Opportunity to use simulation glasses to experience different eye conditions whilst completing practical tasks.
• The correct method of guiding someone with a visual impairment and the experience of what it is like to guide and be guided.
• An overview of hearing impairment and the impact of this on an individual.
• Different methods of communication for people with a hearing impairment.
• Lip reading exercise.
• A certificate will be provided upon completion of the course.

Our Sensory Awareness training is delivered by a skilled and experienced trainer who is also a qualified Vision Rehabilitation Specialist. 

Businesses who have previously commissioned our sensory awareness training services include:

• John Lewis (Leeds)
• Vangarde Shopping Park
• Joseph Rowntree Trust
• Tier Mobility
• Nimbuscare
• Nuffield Health
• Spire Healthcare
• Mencap
• Priory Group

Operations Manager (Vangarde Shopping Park) and sensory impairment trainee Carl Bailey said:

“The training gave me a real insight into how difficult it can be operating with very little or no sight.  I think this is an amazing initiative and it’s very gratifying to be able to offer our customers this important service.”

Sonia Rhodes, Quality Improvement Lead (Nuffield Hospital) had this to say:

“The excellent training delivered by the fabulous team at The Wilberforce Trust was funny, engaging and impactful.  Taking to the streets ourselves with simulation glasses to impair our vision, in ways similar to glaucoma and macular degeneration was frankly petrifying, but we also learned so many skills and techniques to help us more ably assist where it might be required and wanted in the future.”

Check out our 5 year training impact report here.

Want to get going and make some quick changes to improve your accessibility?  Then why not take a look at our quick guide ‘Advice on making your service accessible for individuals with Sensory Loss’.

Environmental Assessments

Environmental audits are a way of looking at how accessible a building or a room within a building is to a range of potential users, including people with mobility and sensory impairments.  An audit can help to identify adjustments which can make your space more accessible.

Why have an environmental audit?

• To ensure that any changes you are considering making have considered the access needs of people who are disabled. 
• In order to recognise potential obstacles to access for people who are disabled, and to find a solution which make access equitable to everyone.
• Improving accessibility helps to increase customer satisfaction and retention.

The Wilberforce Trust can complete an environmental audit of your premises – please contact us for further details. 

Only around one in 10 people with poor functional vision is in paid employment.