Private Sensory Room creation, any advice please xx

[Philippa83]

Hi All,
I have a daughter who is currently awaiting diagnosis for pda austism and quite possibly some other things in the mix.

I have struggled to find a relaxing place for my daughter so I’m opening a private sensory room
I plan to do complete room hires also small group sessions for primary aged children with special needs and well as babies

Just had my location confirmed it’s in a converted barn on a farm very peaceful
Just wanted to ask for other mums help and suggestions to what they would like to see? What would put them off also

I’m looking around £5/7 a child for a hour group session with a max of 5 kids
To hire out exclusively and share if you wish with a friend £25 an hour

Unsure whether to make have a ball pond and soft play shapes as not sure if it will take the calming aspect away

I would really appreciate any help at all my life savings are building it and really can’t afford for it to go wrong!

[Philippa83]

I’ve worked in places which have them
However I can’t find anything on these lines

Once I have my solid plan I’ll start putting ads in places used by children

[Polter]

I really can't see the point. What are you trying to achieve?

[Philippa83]

What am I trying to achieve?? To give children the chance to use a state of the art sensory environment and a family time for a chat and to relax

I can’t be dealing with negativity like you

[Polter]

'Not seeing the point' isn't being negative, it's that I genuinely don't understand how it would work. What do you mean by 'sensory'? What age are you aiming at? Are you offering therapy? How do you deal with opposing sensory needs?

[CaptainKirkssparetupee]

You've not really explained what you mean by "sensory room", for example what would you provide equipment wise which I can't in my own home?
Lava lamps, water speakers, lights, ripple projectors, keyboard mats and the like are all avalible relatively cheaply these days. As are bowls of pasta, beads and stuff.

[OfIceAndFire]

Have you done some sensory Room training? The training covers different uses for equipment and what the effect on a persons senses would be.

The idea of a sensory room isn't to turn on all the bubble lamps, light shoes etc, but to have a few specific items running that would create a specific sensory experience.

The training may also help you identify what equipment would be the most useful in your space based on your target audience.

My local leisure centre had a sensory room and it's well used (they charge £10 for initial training on using it and £5 a session after that). So if done well, it may be possible to make a business out of it.

[Philippa83]

Actually I’m sensory trained and a mental health nurse

I have had this idea for 10+ years so not on a whim at all.
It’s been very highly planned. Reckless absolutely not.

The sensory room will have uv lights, interactive bubble tubes. Fibre optics in the ceiling a projector etc
Certainly something that most couldn’t achieve at home and all’s ahead of all our local special schools.

The sessions would be planned around each child’s needs for the 1:1 and the group sessions will all be a little different eg one would use some sensory toys but have a lighter room, some total darkness and no noise etc.
I’m not currently working so not needing to produce a wage immediately my husbands salary will continue as usual.

The supplier of the equipment mostly seem to offer free training with purchase which will be great
Also doing first aid trainings etc before I open in January as don’t want it rushed

[Philippa83]

its a multi sensory environment it’s a form of therapy yes but client lead, they can use it how they wish

[Philippa83]

I appreciate your messages zzzzz but it’s not really helping my initial question which was to parents who already just/require sensory support.

What they would like to see etc

[Polter]

Ok, as an autistic adult and parent of an autistic child with significant sensory processing problems, I wouldn't use a sensory room as a discrete offering. I think they can be useful as a place to re-balance and de-stress at places and venues where the environment or expectations are overwhelming, as a sort of retreat. I had my own assessment in a 'sensory room' and as a clinical space it was lovely, it had been very cleverly designed and thought out to meet multiple needs, and it did not look like a typical sensory room, more it was a room designed for multiple uses with a consideration for the sensory needs of the people who would use it.

[outputgap]

My kids love sensory rooms but I'm not sure we'd go specifically to one, and it would certainly need another activity to escape to.

I wouldn't be keen on UV lights. I'm a UV avoider!

[CaptainKirkssparetupee]

What a horrible horrible comment, you obviously need sunshine in your life.

[Polter]

It's not criticism. You asked for opinions and you got honest responses. That's not a bad thing when you're sinking your life savings into something.

[outputgap]

OK. I thankfully didn't see your comment but I can guess.

I actually had my vitamin d checked about 5 times each pregnancy. I was under haematology and my consultant said she'd never seen such good vitamin d and b12. (I'm a vegetarian and she was just going into a rant about vegetarians and pregnancy when a junior Dr read my bloods out.)

Anyway. I have an extensive family history of skin cancer. I have researched and had private and NHS monitoring of my vitamin do and it was at the top end of ideal.

So perhaps you would like to think of another way to try to be an autistic-hating, mannerless prick, and leave me be to enjoy my perfect child and equally flawless skin.

[EggysMom]

A leisure centre near me has a sensory room that you can hire for your child ... lights, bubble tube, projectors. I've taken our ASD son there a couple of times - there's more sensory equipment than he has at home; plus, because it's away from home, I'm less likely to be distracted and can actually focus on supporting him. It's a bit like taking a child to softplay, but fulfilling their sensory needs rather than physical needs.