Communicating your needs when you have a debilitating injury from things like strokes, traumatic brain damage or spinal cord injuries can be a difficult process for all involved. How do you feel connected to your environment when your speech is limited or non-existent or you have limited use of your limbs?
According to Paul Pagliano, the man behind the idea who is visiting Canada on a sponsorship from the Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation, you set aside the abstract communication and instead attempt a more concrete connection through the senses.
Multi-sensory environments (MSE) are widely used in Europe for people with profound disabilities. These settings include safe stimuli geared towards the specific disability being targeted. The author of the article lists such things as lights, music and even food to help create a relaxing and/or stimulating environment that is under the control of the person who is disabled.
We think this sounds like a novel approach and we will be interested to see how Pagliano’s concept is received while he is visiting Canada.
For more information visit the Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation.