The ALLIANCE Scottish Sensory Hub 2021 review

The Scottish Sensory Hub launched in 2021.

We established the Scottish Sensory Hub last year. It draws expertise from deafscotland, formerly Scottish Council on Deafness (SCOD), Scottish Council on Visual Impairment (SCOVI) and the See Hear Strategy to form a platform of connection and knowledge between the voice of lived experience, the sensory loss sector and Scottish Government.

The Scottish Sensory Hub takes a human rights, asset-based approach, informed by the Social Model of Disability around key themes of Communication, Information and Mobility. These aspects are critical in the inclusion, equity and participation of people with sensory loss in everyday life, local communities and wider society.

The Sensory Hub has supported various research and engagement initiatives. For instance, we have collaborated with the University of Strathclyde on a research project focused on improving the pharmaceutical care of older people with sensory loss. We are also leading and co-ordinating engagement to inform the development of the National Low Vision Service for Scotland. We have played a vital role in the establishment of the Sight Loss Research Network to bring sight loss organisations, charities and academics together to ensure research better reflects the requirements of the sector and to bring the voice of lived experience into academic research.

Work continues across all local areas to champion and uphold the recommendations of the See Hear Strategy. We have supported the Managed Clinical Networks for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment and Hearing Impairment (VINCYP and HINCYP), creating a seamless provision of service for children and young people with sensory loss.

The impact of COVID-19 continues to affect everyone, including 1.4 million people across Scotland with sensory loss. The Scottish Sensory Hub continues to work closely with the Scottish Government to enhance accessibility of vaccination journeys of people affected by sensory loss.

The See Hear Co-ordinator, who is also Co-ordinator of the Nordic Cognition Network in relation to Congenital Deafblindness, gained certification from the Nordic Welfare Centre to teach and supervise the Tactile Working Memory Scale and will pioneer role out across Scotland.

We are in the process of developing Sensory Loss training materials and resources that will prompt and support participants to think differently about sensory loss. Inclusive Communication is a core element of our ambition to drive good practice in relation to communication with people affected by sensory loss. We want Scotland to be the first Inclusive Communication nation. Visit the Sensory Hub on the ALLIANCE website for Communication Hints and Tips.

There are just three of us in the Sensory Hub Team; working collaboratively across the sensory sector increases our capacity to address emerging issues, give voice to people with lived experience and effect positive change together. We would like to thank all those involved in collaborative work and to those with lived experience for supporting the work of the Scottish Sensory Hub.

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