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News 1st October 2004 John Bowis MEP visits Sense centre in Barnet On Friday 1 st October John Bowis, MEP for London, visited Sense’s Anne Wall Centre in Barnet which provides day services to deafblind people from across the borough and beyond. He went to meet deafblind people and witness the activities the centre provides. Deafblindness is a combination of both sight and hearing difficulties. Sense offers a wide range of services built around the individual needs of deafblind people, helping them to lead the life that they choose. One-to-one support is provided for approximately 25 adults with a single or dual sensory impairment and associated learning disabilities. Staff support individuals to take part in a range of activities from painting to swimming. They also promote independence in a range of activities including personal living skills such as preparing meals and other everyday tasks. Deafblind children also attend the centre during family weekends. John Bowis was a minister at the Department of Health and was responsible for social services and disability issues. Earlier this year the European Deafblind Network led by Sense campaigned for deafblindness to be recognised as a separate disability by the EU. This is because deafblindness is a combination of deafness and blindness. Mr Bowis was one of the MEPs who signed a historic written declaration in the European Parliament to support this. John Bowis said: “Deafblindness has many causes including premature birth and rubella during pregnancy. People can also become deafblind at any time through meningitis or accidents. Increasingly old age is also a cause. “This visit gave me an opportunity to find out for myself just what local deafblind people have been able to achieve thanks to the support of Sense at the Anne Wall Centre. “I am aware of how hard Sense has worked to improve both national and European recognition of the needs of deafblind people and the many and varied contributions they make to society.”
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