{"id":83022,"date":"2026-03-11T11:23:03","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T11:23:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/?p=83022"},"modified":"2026-03-17T12:29:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T12:29:50","slug":"how-sense-family-days-are-bringing-joy-to-leo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/blog\/how-sense-family-days-are-bringing-joy-to-leo\/","title":{"rendered":"How Sense Family Days are bringing joy to children like Leo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s something special about walking into a Sense Family Day. Everyone is \u2013 if you\u2019ll excuse the pun \u2013 having a ball!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parents. Siblings. And most importantly, children like my six-year-old son Leo who is deafblind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Simona
Leo’s mum Simona with Leo when he was a toddler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In some ways, that seems like it should be a given at playgroups. But I can tell you from personal experience, when you have a deafblind child, that isn\u2019t always the case.

Instead, we\u2019re met with barriers. The venue\u2019s not wheelchair-accessible. The activities aren\u2019t suitable.

And even when everything is fine, it\u2019s just that… fine. As in, nothing dramatic happened. Leo found something to play with, sort of.

Even when nothing is wrong, there\u2019s still this feeling that we don\u2019t quite belong. But not on a Sense Family Day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Family Days are one of my favourite things about working for Sense. We run them throughout the year, and they are free for families to attend. They are tailored to disabled children with complex needs, but are suitable for the whole family – siblings, parents and grandparents!<\/p>\nCaroline, Children & Young People Service support<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Having a ball!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From the moment we arrived, I felt like this was the right place for Leo, and for me.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leo wasn\u2019t just there, he was playing. He was taking part and actively participating. There wasn\u2019t anything that he couldn\u2019t do, not a single activity where he was left on the sidelines. That means so, so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Leo
Leo with his mum Simona at the ‘Let’s Have a Ball’ Family Day at Sense in Barnet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

Leo loved sharing in a range of sensory activities, especially Sensory Storytime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We included things we knew would be attractive and would work for children who are deaf and have vision impairment. This way he extended his attention, and engaged with what was going on, which was great for him.<\/p>\nLiz, Leo’s MSI (multi-sensory impairment) teacher<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Leo attended a Sense Family Day called \u2018Let\u2019s Have a Ball\u2019 which was full of ball-themed activities.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was ball throwing (Leo\u2019s favourite!), songs and activities with balls, a ball pit, even painting with balls. And then a sensory disco (complete with sparkly disco ball) for Sense\u2019s 70th birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alongside ball-themed activities, there were also sensory music and craft sessions, and a sensory room full of specialist equipment was available throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything is free-flow, so we could dip in and out of activities depending on what Leo was enjoying, or if he got overwhelmed.

Having that flexibility is so important, and it\u2019s something you don\u2019t often get at many mainstream playgroups.

It\u2019s that expertise and personal touch that really sets Sense apart.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Marching ants up a log’<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Leo
Leo at a ‘Sensory Storytime’ Family Day exploring movement with a bird toy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Like many deafblind children, Leo struggles with spatial awareness \u2013 understanding where his body is in the space around him. He\u2019ll rarely use both hands at the same time.

But at the Sense Family Day, they did a special song and activity called \u2018marching ants up a log\u2019 \u2013 using a ball and rolling it up a wall to signify the marching ants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During that, Leo used both his hands together to roll the ball, which is a huge achievement. And now, he\u2019s started doing it at home too!

It doesn\u2019t seem like much, but that coordination is a really important skill for learning sign language or using adaptive technology in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the surface, a Sense Family Day is a stress-free day out that\u2019s full of adventure. But beyond that, I know every activity has been carefully designed with Leo\u2019s learning and development in mind.

So when you help fund a Sense Family Day, you\u2019re not just funding a day of sensory activities.<\/strong>

You\u2019re also supporting disabled children with complex needs to improve their communication, gain confidence and learn the skills they\u2019ll need later in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trips to the zoo, sailing and climbing!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Leo and I have been to two Sense Family Days so far, and I hope we can go to many more! The ones we attended were at our local Sense Centre, in Barnet, but they also run outside activities like trips to the zoo, sailing, snow tubing, even climbing!

It would be amazing for Leo to try something like that. <\/strong>But I know that so many Sense Family Days are already oversubscribed.

Each Sense Family Day has been so important to Leo\u2019s wellbeing and his development, so the thought of any child missing out really breaks my heart.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your support is vital to families like mine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t realise until recently that Sense Family Days are funded through donations from people like you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having a deafblind child can feel incredibly isolating, but Sense Family Days give us somewhere to belong. They meet each child\u2019s individual needs, reduce stress, help us feel part of a community \u2013 and they do all this while everyone is having a ball! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is incredibly rare, and I can\u2019t think of a more special gift for another family like mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n

Will you give a gift to support a child like my son Leo to have a ball on a Sense Family Day?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The reason Sense are asking for \u00a340 specifically, is this amount could buy a set of specialist sensory balls in different sizes, colours and textures \u2013 just like the ones Leo had so much fun with on his Sense Family Day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Donate today<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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