What is the idea behind a Multi Sensory Theatre?

Simply Sensory design Multi Sensory Theatres and they are specifically designed environments, which enable people with a disability to enjoy a very wide range of sensory experiences for therapy, learning, relaxation and fun. The concept is to create events which focus on particular senses such as touch, vision, sound, smell, taste and movement. These theaters offer a unique service.

Simply Sensory takes this concept a step further; by providing an environment to facilitate the development of cognitive and sensory skills in a structured and inter-active manner. It gives people control, possibly for the first time in their lives. It enables people with any degree of disability to change and influence their environments in a positive way. What is also important, is that clients carry out sessions in an environment free from the pressure to perform.

Different Types of Environment

The MST consists of 3 rooms each offering its own sensory experience. Different needs require different approaches to care and as such different approaches and application of the Multi-Sensory environment (MSE).

• Soft Play Environment: is suitable for all abilities and a multitude of environments, encouraging physical exercise expression and interaction; fun, play and learning within a safe environment. Traditionally these are housed in an enclosed space, the walls and floor are padded and the layout consists of multi-levels connected with steps, slopes, wedges and blocks with a selection of play shapes and other equipment such as ball pools.

• The Dark Room: With a black ceiling, walls and flooring the background for this area enables images to be presented with maximum definition and minimum visual distraction. This style of room is ideal for visual stimulation and can incorporate the use of ultraviolet lights and fibre optic sprays. They are more commonly used for children who are passive and lethargic and need sensory stimulation.

• The White Room: This is the original type of sensory room that tends to comprise of white ceiling, walls and flooring to provide a 3D screen to present visual effects in isolation or combination with other visual and non visual effects, such as a pin spot and mirror ball, projection equipment, bubble tubes and fibre optics in order to create a relaxing recreational area. 

Who can benefit from a Multi Sensory Environment?
Any individual can benefit from the properties that a Multi-Sensory environment can provide. However it must be noted that for some individuals Multi-Sensory may not be appropriate as it can confuse and frighten, leading to aggression, agitation and mistrust. It is important to minimize the propensity for this to occur by creating a nonthreatening environment, but also to monitor closely the reaction of individuals, keep records and follow good practice when using any type of environment.

The Multi Sensory Environment offers many different roles and out lined below is just a selection of what they can be used for:

•    Stimulation of all the senses - sight, sound, touch, taste and smell
•    Opportunity for emotional development
•    Enhance communication skills
•    Develop social and interactive abilities
•    Minimization of some challenging behaviours
•    Development of choice - enabling user control
•    Tracking skills
•    Development of self - determination
•    Hand-eye co-ordination skills
•    Fine and gross motor skills
•    Sound and music therapy
•    Facilitation of aromatherapy, reminiscence, reflexology and other therapies
•    Physical exercise and play
•    Enable relaxation - reduce stress, tension and aggression
•    Provide an appropriate environment for assessments
•    An area for theme-work and story-telling activities

Simply Sensory Studio - Whats it all about?

The Simply Sensory Studio is an innovative and highly flexible product designed to provide a complete solution for interactive control. From creating sensory rooms and interactive play areas, through to making music for children of all abilities, the Simply Sensory Studio is the perfect solution.

Use movement to trigger or play movement or sound; connect to lighting and special effects for even more impact; create fully interactive themed areas.

Simple cause and effect
Trigger sound or light in a simple way using a single sensor or switch. Control many things at once from a single action, or make them happen in order.

Complex interaction
Control things in a more sophisticated way, using many switches and various sensors interacting together. Up to 16 different sensors and switches can do different things.

Work in groups
Many people can use the Simply Sensory Studio at the same time, to interact with each other – for example one person could trigger a sound and a light, and another person’s position could affect the colour or volume.

Integrate with other software
Use Ensemble to control other music software for example ‘Ableton Live’ or 'E-Scape' and perform music in even more ways.

Easy to Upgrade
Download updates and add new features via our dedicated support website. Multi-level licensing means you only pay for the features you need and can upgrade at any time you like.

Industry Standards
We've designed Ensemble to use industry standards to enable you to connect the widest variety of equipment: MIDI for music equipment; DMX for lighting. This means you don't have to buy specially adapted lighting only sold by us.

Portable
Design an accessible musical instrument using a netbook and speakers, Ensemble and sensors. Design themes for your sensory room on a laptop on the train.

A busy couple of days in Norfolk.

Simply Sensory visited a school in Norwich yesterday to do a maintenance visit on a Simply Sensory Studio we installed with the Ensemble wireless kit we use. We spent the morning ensuring that all of the bubble tubes, soft play, fibre optics and sensory lighting were working properly.


We then went over to another school in Great Yarmouth where Simply Sensory built it's first Sensory room 4 years ago. We were there to do the training on the new Simply Sensory Studio we installed. The room consisted of various sensory lighting, bubble tubes, fibre optics, audio visual and hoist access soft play. So we spent the afternoon setting up themes for the room and then did the training this morning.
The school were that impressed with the ease of use and the impact of the Simply Sensory Studio that they are now wanting to convert their other Sensory room so it has the same user friendly interface. The good thing about the Simply Sensory Studio is that they can use some of their existing equipment which means saving the school money.

Worthwhile trip to Devon

Simply Sensory had a phone call from a distressed parent from Devon yesterday. She was having a conversion in her home, had the builders there, electricians there but had been let down by a Sensory Company. They couldn't continue the build until they knew a design for the room and technical specs for the electrics. So that was it, Simply Sensory was off to Devon. We left at 4am on the 15th of October to see if we could help!!
Dawn broke and we were heading down the M5, breakfast needed. After a hearty services brekky we proceeded to hit Portsmouth... Rush hour traffic. But we made the meet, had a chat with the mother, the builder and the electrician. Even the plumber had questions of a SEN nature.


So let's design a room.... Where do we start when there are no walls and floors!!
Abilities and disabilities of the young man was an obvious starting point, all mum kept saying was.... No switches..... No knobs...... He is destructive!!


Ok, so we have a 9 year old, who enjoys destroying anything he comes across... So... Let my imagination work it's magic..... A den - his own little hide hole. So let's put a uv light in the ceiling, mirrors on the walls and a uv reactive tactile woven mat on the floor.
Fibre optic ceiling that he can control with switches activated in the soft play.
A loveLy LED interactive bubble tube that will be controlled by switches in the wall pads, all wireless and battery free.
A couple of sound reactive lights, so when he plays the lights play with him, make play fun.
Matting on the floor and pads around the walls to make his environment a safe place to be. The plinths will vibrate.
A projector hidden in the ceiling so he can watch his favorite DVDs. All accompanied with a fantastic Dolby 5.1 surround sound system, speakers in the ceiling of course.


After the chat with the mum Simply Sensory spoke to the builders and electrician about how to wire the room, where to place light switches, what lighting to have, what shape the room would be best, how to ventilate the room and how the room needed to be constructed. Everyone seemed happy.


We left the site with a mum to whom was very happy, a builder and electrician who could carry on with the work and a plumber whom now had an idea as to how he could operate the shower and lighting in the young mans bedroom.


Let's see what happens.....

Another room for Hertfordshire school

Simply Sensory went to do a maintenance visit on a school today that has an amazing 7 sensory areas, 6 of which Simply Sensory built.


Having had a good look at the main room it had become clear that the bubble tube had become blocked and wasn't working properly. Cleaning a bubble tube is easy when you do it regular, it's as simple as syphoning out the water with our bubble tube cleaning kit and replacing with fresh water, then adding a capful of our BCB fluid. This helps the tube stay clear of algae. This BCB fluid needs doing every 6-8 weeks, every 12-14 weeks we suggest replacing the water.


As we went through the rooms ensuring all the rooms were at a Simply Sensory standard we found an old set of fibre optic strands. We had a chat with the head of SEN as some of the older strands were found to be carcinogenic according to specialists. So they agreed to have them replaced to air on the side of caution.


The school,to which has been with us since we started have now agreed to have another room designed and installed before Christmas in their extended ed suite.


Their main room is also an old room to which had an old operating system from another Sensory Company, the software was old hat and half of the equipment was failing to respond. Plus we had replaced failed equipment with new bits as they had failed. So they a now saving up to have the new Simply Sensory Studio installed. Which will be a great asset to them as both an educational aid and a bit of fun for the pupils.

BCB Fluid and Bubble Tubes

Bubble Columns, Walls and Tubes are a feature of most multi-sensory environments world-wide, but concern about infection risks from water used in these is increasing.
BCB fluid - a 'simple to use' treatment you add to the water column on a monthly basis - are the result of substantial research into the prevention of bacterial growth, smell and green algae that develop in bubble columns.
BCB has been developed to treat cooling waters in industry. Originally developed as a preservative for pharmaceutical products and cosmetics, Bronopol is one of the safest and most effective products in it's class. Bronopol can be found in many medicines and even in baby shampoo, lotions and tooth-paste.

Based upon the proven BCB Tablets our new fluid product features the following:

• Protection & prevention of infection risk from common aerobic bacteria including Pseudomonas species & Legionella.
• Prevention of green algae
• No waiting for tablet to dissolve
• Easy addition via the bottle dispenser
• No risk to others when the product is diluted and correctly added to the bubble column
• Add once a month – 1 bottle treats a 1-metre bubble column for up to 2 years.
• Proven technology – based on the Bronopol biocide used in the commercial cooling tower industry
• Long shelf life – up to 4 years

BCB is based on an organic biocide that will not cloud the acrylic tube or weaken the welds & joints and is approved by most leading bubble column manufacturers & suppliers. Please do not use bleach or other similar sterilising fluids.
Full details of the original risk assessment on bubble columns together with the microbial profile of BCB are available on request


BCB tablets were developed to ensure chemical cleanliness of bubble columns.
How infection risks develop in bubble columns:
1. Dust and other debris is drawn into the water in the tube via the air pump. Materials such as dirt, fibres from carpets and clothing and dead skin all harbour micro-organisms which contaminate the water.
2. Warmth, light and aeration in the water provide ideal conditions for microbial growth. Bacteria and algae multiply in the water and grow on the inner walls of the tube, forming slime. This slime provides an ideal environment for bacteria to grow and will spoil the visual effect of the tube.
3. The water used to fill the tube, or to 'top-up' during operation, may contain high counts of bacteria. Remember that tap water is not always sterile.
4. As the bubbles burst at the waters surface, they release a cloud of tiny water droplets (called aerosol) which are carried into the air around the tube. If the water is of poor quality, aerosols can spread harmful bacteria into the air and present a risk of infection.

New room for a Norwich Special School

We have gone to Norfolk today to spend a week building a new state of the art Simply Sensory Studio for a new build part of the school.  We assisted the architect from the ground up to ensure the room was to a specification that would meet the needs of the school and its pupils.


When we got here they hadn't managed to get the room to how we needed it, so we set to work to help them finish off the work, out came our paint brushes.

Then the room building begins...... tune in to my next blog to see how were going.