We have established a new immersive, mobile, multisensory Assistive Technologies (AT) facility for the people we support in Ravenswood. This was an opportunity to provide additional wellbeing opportunities using AT with a focus on reaching more people with complex needs. Ravenswood has an ageing population and is supporting people through many health-related and emotional issues, including early onset dementia, bereavement and loss. With funding from the Ian Karten Charitable Trust, we have expanded our use of technology to provide an immersive, multi-sensory room that can be moved to various locations and homes in Ravenswood.
The Concept
The aim for the project was to provide a calming, flexible space that could be adapted to allow different themes and activities to be offered. This would enhance services by combining new technology with some existing activities, increasing reach and meeting a wider range of needs. We wanted to provide an immersive sensory room that could be moved to different locations to offer multi-sensory experiences.
We had seen the benefits of assistive technology on the people we support with learning disabilities and autism. Our experience has shown that by incorporating further technology, we can positively enhance social opportunities which stimulate interest, curiosity, engagement, and learning. This immerses the people we support in a sensory world where they can relax and express themselves freely while exploring their visual, auditory, tactile, and olfactory senses. This approach offers the people we support, a chance to experience mindfulness in a meaningful way for them and offers a way to relieve stress and enhance overall wellbeing.
The Sensory Thematic Approach
We chose to set up the project in a room in the Pamela Barnet service at Ravenswood. This location enables us to raise awareness of our sensory space for both the people we support and staff.
Alongside our existing sensory equipment, the funding from Ian Karten Charitable Trust has enabled us to approach our sensory delivery with fresh eyes and find new inventive ways to use it. The use of the latest Magic Carpet Reflex projector, and different sound elements has enhanced the immersive experience, drawing in both the people we support and staff in new ways to explore and engage with AT.
Project Launch
All the equipment required to complete this project has been delivered and installed.
Wendy Yeomans is Norwood’s Intensive Interactive specialist, working alongside staff, to help them become familiar and confident with a variety of approaches when using AT.
- Providing ongoing staff training
- Building confidence in using the sensory equipment
- Developing staff confidence to use their own creative skills to build positive sensory experiences
- Encouraging staff to integrate their new skills and understanding of various approaches into sensory stories and themes for the people they support
The aim of using assistive technology is to:
- Maximise engagement and interest from the people we support
- Enable preference and choice
- Improve communicative responses
- Supports behaviour regulation
- Develop understanding of cause and effect
Wendy enabled staff to observe individuals’ interactions in a more focused way, paying attention to body language, facial expression, eye movement or vocal responses, however small.
Staff have been given record sheets to record which equipment has been used and when. They also recorded outcomes in relation to the people we support and their engagement with particular items. This recording activity assists in identifying individual’s sensory motivators and preferences so personal sensory programs can developed to increase levels of engagement and enjoyment in the future.
Read part two of this article, the case studies.
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- This article was written by the Norwood Ravenswood Karten Centre
- Featured in the Karten Spring 2024 Newsletter
- This article is listed in the following subject areas: Centre News