Multisensory rooms have become increasingly popular. They typically occupy considerable space, require substantial financial investment, and consume significant amounts of time and human effort.
However, there is a mismatch between expectation and experience of sensory rooms, which is underpinned by some fundamental misunderstandings from their conception. People may feel disappointed and that the equipment is insufficient, or that they need to try something different.
Joanna Grace, sensory engagement and inclusion specialist, joins me in today’s episode ‘Myth busting the Magic of Sensory Rooms’. In 2019 Joanna conducted research into the use of multisensory rooms which looked into effective practice and identifying key features and barriers.
In this podcast Joanna highlights:
- the history of sensory rooms
- her research findings
- evidence based practice
- that effectiveness is not related to the price
- having every single classroom as a sensory room
- the importance of understanding why and who you’re doing it for
Useful Links
A message from Joanna
Aside from the obvious, my son’s book My Mummy is Autistic, I have a FREE training series on YouTube aimed at mainstream SENCOs (but it has been accessed far more widely than that) that explores issues that crop up in schools around autistic students.
My facebook is a resource for insight into neurodivergence, with the photo albums acting as resource banks: people are welcome to connect with me. My LinkedIn profile also has many free to access articles that I have written on the topic of neurodiversity.
About Joanna Grace
Joanna Grace is a sensory engagement and inclusion specialist, doctoral researcher, author, trainer, TEDx speaker and Founder of The Sensory Projects.
Joanna has worked with people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent conditions aged from 0-100 (well 1 day old – 87 years old to be precise) in a range of settings and context.
Through all she does Joanna is seeking to contribute to a future where people are understood in spite of their differences.
BOOK AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE
Written by Joanna Grace, a leading sensory specialist, in a fully accessible way, this book is an invaluable tool for anybody who uses, or is considering using, a multisensory room.
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