Developing competencies in multi-sensory rooms

Abstract

The multi-sensory room is perceived as a unique and invaluable asset in assisting those working with this group to achieve a wide variety of targets. The design of the multi-sensory room will affect a child's interpretation of the activities offered within it. Many rooms have white soft play covering on the floors, around the walls and even on the back of the door, with nothing to distinguish walls from floors, corners from walls. The other attractions of the room are far harder to explain in objective terms because they involve the way in which sensory stimuli affect our subconscious. Multi-sensory rooms may be used for work towards a range of educational targets. The authors consider three examples: relaxation skills, cause-and-effect work and communication. The technology used in multi-sensory rooms is that most users are constantly discovering new capabilities of their equipment.