Sound Therapy

“Stuff in cupboards” is a phrase you’ll often hear in special education. It’s used to describe technology  acquired at some point in the past, stored somewhere and eventually forgotten about. Generally someone enthusiastically champions the item, convinces others of the need to own one and becomes the resident expert. But when this visionary leaves the organisation often finds they’re left with a technological marvel no-one knows how to use… Continue reading ‘Stuff in cupboards’

We’ve written several times lately about people and organisations who’ve inspired our thinking. It was sad news at the weekend to hear of the death of Mario Barp who was a huge influence on Tom and John in the early days of Decoda.

Mario was an activities organiser at Highglades day service in St Leonards where Tom and John ran both a group music session for the service users and individual sessions with a Soundbeam. Very often when they came back from these they would repeat something they’d learned from Mario, some new way of interacting with someone who had little verbal communication. It was through Mario that they learned to cherish every small change and to build on it.

When we set up the Music Gym, the first year was run in partnership with Highglades which meant Mario came to work there with us. As it was the pilot year we had to make notes of small changes and benefits, and Mario’s experience was invaluable for that. He would have always spotted someone doing something they’d not tried before and was tireless in his attempts to engage the visitors with autism.

After devoting himself to improving the quality of life for those with profound disabilities, Mario retired from the care sector a few years ago and concentrated on his photography.  “I am here to stay/ in this beautiful world” is what it says on his google profile. I’m sure he stays in the hearts of all who knew him.

Association Les Pas Perdus

This month we turn our lens to one of our earliest inspirations for the multi sensory space known as the Music Gym, the organisation whose research and findings helped lead towards the foundation of our unique special needs activity. Continue reading ‘Artistic Inspiration for Multi Sensory Environments’

A Robot Named KASPAR

Kaspar is a robot with a mission, a mission to help young people with autism learn to communicate, play and interact with others. His name is an acronym for Kinesics And Synchronisation in Personal Assistant Robots (Kaspar is a lot easier on the tongue!) and he was developed by the Adaptive Systems research group from the University of Hertfordshire. Continue reading ‘Autistic Kids Embrace the Future’

Continue reading ‘How to get the Wireless Buzz! Controllers working on a PC’

We’ve all got our party hats on here at the office, and if you live in or around Herefordshire you might just have reason to celebrate too!

We are proud to announce today that the formation of the first – of what we hope will be many new Music Gyms – is now under way. Continue reading ‘New Special Needs Facility Coming to Hereford’

The Seven Senses of a Multi Sensory Environment

Of all the searches that lead readers to our site, one of the most popular is the phrase ‘Multi Sensory Room Ideas’. We think of ourselves as creating interactive environments rather than sensory rooms as such but it’s interesting to consider where we fit in this rich tradition.

In this short article I’m going to attempt to give a VERY brief overview of the history of Sensory Environments, from ‘Snoezelens’ to Music Gyms.

Continue reading ‘What is a Sensory Room?’

Using switches to control computer programs

We’ve received a few requests for slightly simplified tutorials on the blog, so I hope the following beginners guide to Switch Activities for Special Needs will be of use to our readers.
Continue reading ‘Beginners guide to switches’

A look at Temple Grandins Squeeze Machine

Continue reading ‘The Hug Box’

The early days of Music Gym: 2007 article by Kay Green

Although we’re now the Music Gym Ltd and no longer Decoda, there’s still alot we can learn from those early days!

Amongst the squash courts and practice nets at Horntye Sports Centre in Hastings is the Decoda Music Gym, an area designed for experimenting and playing with music and movement. For the physically able there’s an interactive bouncy castle, dancing boards that trigger music, or the opportunity to dance with your shadow on a large screen. For the less able, or less energetic, there are Soundbeams, vibro-acoustic seats and cushions, bubbles, and switches to operate film.

Continue reading ‘A Multi Sensory Room in Action!’