A category on the UIResponder class to obtain the first responder object.

UIResponder+FirstResponder.h

@interface UIResponder (FirstResponder)

+ (UIResponder *)firstResponder;

@end

UIResponder+FirstResponder.m

@implementation UIResponder (FirstResponder)

+ (UIResponder *)firstResponder
{
    NSMutableDictionary *sender = [NSMutableDictionary dictionary];
    [[UIApplication sharedApplication] sendAction:@selector(setSelfForFirstResponderInSender:) to:nil from:sender forEvent:nil];
    return [sender valueForKey:@"firstResponder"];
}

- (void)setSelfForFirstResponderInSender:(id)sender
{
    [sender setValue:self forKey:@"firstResponder"];
}

@end