This service makes it possible for textphone users to make and receive phone calls from hearing people. Typetalk has undoubtedly had a very valuable and positive impact on the lives of deafblind people who are able to access it through braille and large print computer systems. No longer are those of us with access to Typetalk dependent upon hearing people to make and receive phone calls. I even phoned Australia early one morning to sort out our accommodation here while Jackie was asleep in bed. Over the past 20 years Sense has grown rapidly from a small self help group into a major charity providing a range of services including family advisory services, residential group homes and advisory education services for deafblind children.
Sense is also heavily involved in usher syndrome research and service provision.
The organisation also has an extensive family network with branches in many parts of the Country. Recognition by our Government of deafblind children's special needs - each child is entitled to a specialist assessment which looks at the whole child and all areas and aspects of development. The establishment of the Post Graduate Deafblind Teacher Training Course in Birmingham. This course has resulted in a growing number of teachers qualified to work with deafblind children in local authority and specials schools. Sense International has grown rapidly developing awareness of deafblindness and supporting the establishment of new deafblind organisations in the Third World including India and a number of other countries.