People across Essex are being encouraged to ‘be aware, tolerant and kind’ to people living with sensory impairment in a campaign showing their new reality during COVID-19.

The campaign has been co-created by Healthwatch Essex and people in the county who are deaf, blind or deafblind, all working within a forum called ‘Collaborate Essex’. They have shared their experiences, which have shaped a short film, giving insight into the challenges of social distancing during a pandemic, when you aren’t able to see or hear clearly. The film replicates their day-to-day life, doing ordinary tasks like shopping, travelling on public transport and working. 

Across Essex one in five people live with sensory impairment, ranging from being partially sighted or hard of hearing to completely blind or deaf. Collaborate Essex forum members have said they find it difficult to social distance, lip read through masks and see COVID-19 specific signage, including one-way systems around shops. Their guide dogs are also not trained to understand the new restrictions and can’t locate the end of queues. 

Sam Fox is a member of the Collaborate Essex forum and lives with sight loss, she said:

“I am so proud to be part of the sensory awareness campaign. I want everybody to see it and just take a little bit of time to notice what we are going through. I think the film is a fantastic reflection on what it’s like for those with sensory impairment on a day-to-day basis”.

Healthwatch CEO, Sam Glover said:

“COVID-19 has brought new challenges to the sensory impaired community and at Healthwatch Essex listening to lived experiences is at the heart of what we do.

“We have worked with members of our Collaborate Essex forum who live with sight and hearing loss to develop the sensory awareness campaign.

“Although we think being patient and caring is important all the time, this campaign is aimed to create awareness of being aware, tolerant and kind to those with sensory impairment during coronavirus and the unprecedented circumstances it has created”. 

If you would like to find out more about sensory impairment during the pandemic you can visit their website.