Soft matting and wall padding have been a feature of many rooms for a number of years. The addition of wedges, bean bags and other shapes in a space can offer furniture which will get the student in a good seating or prone position. It can also make a room fun. Floor matting and wall…
Learning to look at things from the child’s point of view is going to help us to get play and communication going in kids on the spectrum. Play and learning are the same thing. When kids are playing, they are using, combining and developing skills such as movement, thinking, attention, seeing, listening and, of course,…
Sound or hearing stimulation is as important as visual stimulation. Creating vibrations with music can have a big effect on a learner’s ability to understand sound. As well as helping them to regulate sound, it helps with sound location and tracking skills. The Wowee speaker (from Amazon) has long been the budget leader for this…
This is a fun way to project colourful images onto walls, ceilings and floors, even umbrellas. Although it could be argued that video projection offers a wider range of material, the ‘Mirage’ projector does not require a computer, it is also very portable and does not call for the practitioner to have detailed technical knowledge…
Switching systems will enable the student to turn electrical appliances on and off via switches, which are designed to accommodate many physical demands. These systems offer more than simple on/off operation; the system presents the student with the opportunity to gain control and autonomy. Many systems are now radio controlled, so there is no lead…
Hearing is one of the most important senses we have. People without the ability to hear often say that they are the most isolated from our world. I have a hearing loss myself and I understand what it’s like to be isolated in some situations. We always talk to learners whether they have a hearing…
White rooms The design of the white room is unique; it’s a space where students can relax, escape, recuperate and evaporate the stress and complexities of the real world for a short while. Visual effects and music stimulate the distance senses vision and hearing, whilst aromatherapy, tactile objects and soft furnishings may occupy the close…
It is common to hear that we ‘do visual stimulation’ with students with visual impairments, and it will prove to be beneficial for all ages. However, to do this we must find something that the learner is interested in looking at! We must also investigate how the learner sees. I would always recommend a formal…