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Sensory team

Islington Council’s sensory team is a specialist team providing support to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired or have a combined sensory loss (deaf/blind).

What the sensory team does

The Sensory team assess sensory needs and then provide equipment, rehabilitation training, advice and support. We also maintain a register for people who are blind, partially sighted, deaf, hard of hearing and deaf/blind.

Contact the sensory team

You can contact the sensory team using the following contact details:

Access and Advice: Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm
222 Upper Street
London N1 1XR

Telephone: 0207 527 2299

Please see the options below to find helpful information about a specific sensory disability and services.

Visually impaired

Services available

  • Specialist assessment
  • Social work support
  • Rehabilitation/mobility training
  • Equipment
  • Registration on receipt of Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI)
  • Low Vision Centre (RNIB)
  • Directory of services in Islington for Blind and Visually Impaired people

Duty services

Duty sessions with Duty Rehabilitation Worker
Appointments or drop-in: Mondays 2pm - 4.30pm
Room 12
222 Upper St
N1 1XR

Low Vision Centre
Clinic appointments: Wednesdays 9.30am - 3.30pm
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
105 Judd Street
WC1H 9NE

Booking appointments

Appointments can be booked by:

Deaf and hard of hearing

Services available

  • Specialist assessment
  • Social work or care management support
  • Equipment
  • Registration
  • Directory of services in Islington for deaf and hard of hearing people
  • Deaf Welfare Advice Service

Duty services

Duty session with Care Manager or Social Worker
Appointments or drop-in: Thursdays 9.30am - 12.30pm
Room 12
222 Upper St
N1 1XR

Booking appointments

Appointments can be booked by contacting the Sensory Team.

Dual sensory loss

Services available

  • Specialist assessment
  • Rehabilitation/mobility training
  • Equipment
  • Registration of receipt of Certificate of Visual Impairment or Audiogram
  • Directory of services in Islington for deaf, hard of hearing and visually impaired people

Duty services

Please see our duty services for visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing people.

Deaf Welfare Rights Advice Services (DWRAS)

The Deaf Welfare Rights Advice Service (DWRAS) is part of the sensory team, working with deaf Islington residents age 18 years and over.

Services available

  • BSL translation
  • Council issues such as housing and repairs, Council Tax, Housing Benefits
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP 1 and 2) forms
  • Welfare benefit check and advice about other benefits available
  • Letter and form translation (welfare, benefits, appointments)
  • Debt advice (credit cards, bailiffs, store cards)
  • Support with HMRC information such as Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit

Referrals for equipment and Access team

Sometimes DWRAS may have to refer or signpost you to other organisations that can help you. These may include immigration or passport issues, legal advice, the sign language interpreter team or Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD) employment services.

Duty services

Drop in sessions: Tuesdays 9.30am - 4pm
Appointments: Wednesdays 9.30am - 4pm
Room 12
222 Upper St
N1 1XR

Other useful services at 222 Upper Street, N1 1XR

Sign language team

Tel: 020 7527 3962
Minicom: 020 7527 6067
SMS (text messaging) 0781 6820795
Fax: 020 7527 3275
Email: interpreter.signlanguage@islington.gov.uk

Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD) employment services

RAD is open on Tuesdays, 10am – 1pm
Royal Association for Deaf people

You can use the following to contact council services independently

  • Sign Video (reception) - you can use the signing booth in the council reception to talk to someone using British Sign Language.
  • BSL Live - we have more infomation about using BSL Live on our Accessibility pages.

Other useful services for the deaf and hard of hearing

Action on Hearing Loss 

Other useful services for visual impairment

Royal National Institute for the Blind