Multi-Sensory Environments

Today we looked at Multi-Sensory Environments and the struggles our students who have ASD, Down's Syndrom, Developmental Delay or behavioral problems face daily.

We watched a video on a Snoezlen room at Stockton Elementary School in Chicago. Snoezlen rooms were deceloped in FIND OUT PERSON in Holland in the 1970's. The word stands for Snuffelen,” to seek out, and “Doezelen” to relax. A It is a mult-sensory room fileld with lights and other sensors that they can use to explore their enviroment. For students who struggle with sensory issues,, being able to have control of their enviroment helps them become more relaxed, teaches them about cause and effect and improves their attention span. It allows them to go to the classroom relaxed and better able to attend to their classroom activities.

They are very expensive to build but I was excited to here that SMILE is in the process of building one. There is one in an adult centre in East Hants and I have recently learned that DACS (Dartmouth Adult Service Centre) also has one. It is sad that Canada doesn't follow England's lead where every new recreational centre must have a multi-sensory room for anyone who needs in.

While we may not all have access to a Snoezlen room, Roxanne gave us some great multi-sensory ideas to use in the classroom.