Girl learns to hug for first time

Megan's family have waited years to share a loving hug with her

A seven-year-old girl with physical and learning disabilities has learned to hug her family for the first time.

Megan Bailey, from Rhyl, Denbighshire, is almost blind and has struggled to communicate all her life.

Now though, with the help of Sense, a national deaf-blind charity, she is learning to communicate and can show her affection.

Her mother, Natalie, said: "When we touch her arms she opens them up for a big hug."

She added: "It's made us all incredibly happy that she can now show us her affection."

Megan suffers from a series of difficulties caused by a genetic condition which was picked up before her birth in a scan.

She and her family are members of Sense Cymru, and attend workshops where they socialise with other deaf-blind people and their families.

Megan attends a special education school, where she is visited regularly by a multi-sensory impairment specialist from Sense, who has helped her and other pupils communicate with each other.

The family has been supported by deaf-blind charity Sense

The youngster is beginning to work with Makaton, a communication system using gestures and signs for key words.

Sense estimate there are 384 deaf-blind people in Denbighshire alone and hope cases like Megan's will help highlight the challenges faced by people with similar conditions.

Megan will soon be leaving for her third Sense holiday, where she will spend time with other deaf-blind children.

Her father, Lee, an RAF officer, said: "Sense has guided us to the right people to help Megan and support our family."

Her mother Natlie added: "Megan will be able to remain at her school until she's 19 and we hope life will be better for her with improved communications so that she can learn more about the world.

"We hope that she will continue to have opportunities to develop through a network of specialised support people.

"And, most importantly, we want her to continue to be happy."

Sense is running a Deafblind Awareness Week from 22 June to 28 June.