Commentary on “Multisensory rooms: essential characteristics and barriers to effective practice”
Tizard Learning Disability Review
ISSN: 1359-5474
Article publication date: 6 May 2020
Issue publication date: 7 July 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on Grace’s article on multisensory rooms.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper gives a historical overview of the emergence and evolution of multi-sensory environments (MSEs) together with an outline of a current research project seeking to support best practice.
Findings
MSEs have become a standard feature in special educational needs schools in the UK with government building guidelines now stipulating the inclusion of at least one sensory room within any such provision. However, there is little research-based evidence from which design decisions can be informed. Instead, previous research has tended to focus on the effectiveness of MSEs for specific user groups.
Originality/value
The outlined research will establish some initial design principles for MSEs.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The research study into design principles for MSEs as described in this paper is supported by funding from the British Academy/Leverhulme Small Grants Award Scheme (award reference: SRG19\190213).
Citation
Challis, B., Hildred, M. and Bailey, J.R. (2020), "Commentary on “Multisensory rooms: essential characteristics and barriers to effective practice”", Tizard Learning Disability Review, Vol. 25 No. 2, pp. 77-81. https://doi.org/10.1108/TLDR-01-2020-0001
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited