A tall column of water hosting a myriad of colour changing bubbles, a visually captivating effect with sound, vibration and movement, the bubble tube has the ‘fish tank’ effect – that’s something which makes you want to stop and wonder. Most tubes are substantial in their presence from one to two metres tall. They create…
The most successful sensory room designs are those based on the needs of the learners who use the space. Here’s where the ‘AAA’ principles of room design fit in: Availability Appropriateness Achievability Availability: Your multisensory tools and equipment need to be available when you need them – and to work first time. It’s frustrating to…
In the 1970s Carl Delacato (in his work as an educator with children who had all kinds of difficulties) had an inspired hunch. Maybe the unusual mannerisms and difficult behaviours with the label of ‘autisms’ were nothing of the kind – they might just be better defined as ‘sensoryisms’. Convinced that the prevailing idea that…
Steve Briggs, a previous Principal of Beaumont College, Lancaster was an inspiration to many, including myself. I listened to him talk about creating “a rich density of non-contingent reinforcement”. I just agreed and thought what a great idea… but inevitably thought, what is he on about? Of course, what he was seeking was perfection in…
“Trailing strands of cascading colour” is a very romantic way to describe fibre optics, but the effect is visually stunning. The colour changing tubes transmit no heat or electricity, which makes them very safe to handle. They are a great alternative to any mains-powered lighting, which is unsafe to touch. This is the key to…
Speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN) run through the autism spectrum from one ‘end’ to the other. They are like words through a stick of Blackpool rock. Wherever you snap that stick, there is the word Blackpool running right through it. SLCN is universal across autism and is fundamental to the pattern of differences we…
In order to ensure that technical equipment is being used well and kept in good working order, it may be beneficial to appoint someone as an iPad/tablet Coordinator. They should understand how to get support from either Apple or a third-party provider and be responsible for the distribution of the iPads. Safety of the equipment…
When trying to get learners with autism or a visual loss to really focus on you or the activity, it’s worth looking around your room and following these five quick and easy visual points: Look out for visual glare in the room. Some learners with visual impairments will not work well with bright light. The…
Ultraviolet light or UV light is the most effective way to make fluorescent or white objects glow. How bright will depend on the power of the UV. For example, a 4ft tube will make things glow around 40 times brighter. The UV light we use is in the U.V.A. frequency and is known as ‘Blacklight’.…
If I said to you that I was going to construct a studio in your school, centre or home, what would you think? A studio, what kind? Music, drama, art, dance, television, or even a creative science lab could come to mind. Like many multisensory environments, much of the equipment used in a sensory theme…