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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

sensory room

51 replies

Jimjams · 15/08/2003 21:33

We have a basement room which is used as a kind of junk room at the moment. We would like to turn it into a mini sensory room (nothing too major- I want it to cost 100's not 1000's!!) We don't need big bubble tubes as ds1 stimms like mad with anything too bright. I would like a projector- I have a few lights and a vibrating pillow- would also like to get a mirror ball, spotlight, vibrating mattress and a cd player etc. We have the rompa catalogue and a tbh (tph?) catalogue. I just wondered whether anyone knows of any other suppliers, or whether anyone knows of charities that award grants for this sort of thing (long shot I know).

What colour is best for the walls? White?

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fio2 · 18/08/2003 07:21

There is a sensory room at my dd's school so the next time I go I will have a good nose around and report back to you

Rebi · 18/08/2003 08:30

Jimjams, Index catalogue has a lot of projectors, mirror balls, lights, etc (I think about 2 pages full) and very reasonable prices. I had been thinking to doing the same thing for ds in his bedroom. I'm not sure under what heading though - will look for you when I get home from work.

SoupDragon · 18/08/2003 09:22

I'd say that white might be a bit harsh. Cream may be softer on the eye.

As for the money, go to the Co-op's website and look under "I need some information" and then "Community Dividend". The Co-op donates money to local organisations but it also lists "people with disabilities" under those who have benefitted.

Bobsmum · 18/08/2003 09:25

My mum has a Snoozlen (sp?) room at work (she's an OT) and the walls are white. There are also mirror panels on the walls (IKEA might be worth a look?)

Early Learning Centre do a bubble machine almost exactly like the one my mum has but her's was from Rompa and about treble the price!

misdee · 18/08/2003 10:38

contact your health visitor. they may have a list of local charities that could help u with the cost. their funds are limited, and depending on the circumstances they will award full amounts or partial grants to help. i am currently in the process of applying to 2 local charities to get my house 'asthma and eczema' friendly. its a long shot, but worth a go.
lights and things, try hippy type shops, index, argos.
dont know if u want glow in the dark paint, or shimmer paints but homebase do these reasonably priced, ikea is another place to try for mirrors and little bits and pieces, they have wall tiles which are a bit like the mirrors at funhouses.
ufo lights are good (fibreoptic), i dont think crackle lamps would work, lava lamps and glitter lamps maybe, u can get bubble tubes without lights, or do as i did and accidently drop the thing so the light doesnt work lol. how about a bubble machine? would this work for your son? bit pricey but can always be taken out of the room for your other ds parties etc.
i think cream, or a pastal colour would work better than white as white is too stark.
hth
dee

ScummyMummy · 18/08/2003 10:52

I know of several trusts that will help with this sort of thing, jimjams, but most are means tested and shut off at approx £22,000 pa, IME. I don't want to pry into your family income on the boards but please feel free to email me if you'd like more info.

ThomCat · 18/08/2003 11:12

The sensory room at the hospital I go to is pale blue - calming and cool.
Ikea would be a good place to go to get stuff.
also science museum for ideas.
They had a wall of yellow tubes hanging down like a curtain and Lottie loved it. You could use garden hose and staple them at the top to a piece of wood and hang it in the room.
Iikea also have plastic mirror type things that distrot the image in a variety of ways that might be good too?
Greta ieea by the way - what a lucky boy to have a house that has the room and a mum with the ideas!

Davros · 22/08/2003 08:32

Love the sensory room idea. I'm sure this would be a case when you should be able to get a reducation in your council tax for having a room with adaptations for the sole use of a person with a disability (or whatever they call it). They're used to seeing rooms with OT stuff etc so when they came to us and found a little (perfectly formed!) school room it was unusual but the very nice lady said she couldn't see why it didn't meet the requirements. Just make sure, if you have a spare bed in there for instance, that it is disguised. They drop you down one band on the council tax, all good money to go towards other things like glitter balls

Original poster

Jimjams · 22/08/2003 08:52

Thanks for that tip davros. We'll have the futon in there for ds1 to lie one-but it'll have a vibrating matress on top- so hopefully it'll look therapyish (otherwise we'll look kinky!)

Cellar is now fixed (it had a leasking drain), so we can sort out the room now- yeah! DS1 loved the sensory room at BIBIC. Wish I had 20000 to spend then I'd put in my own little snoezelen room.

Ahh well back to the IKEA catalogue

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hmb · 22/08/2003 09:03

Our local toy library rents out sensory SN equipment. It costs a pound and item for a months rent. That way you can try before you buy and see what ds enjoys most. You can also 'bulk' out your kit without it costing a packet. (probably telling my granny how to suck eggs I realise )

tigermoth · 22/08/2003 19:31

jimjams, I have a thought. What about seeing if a local art college would like to help you? It could become a student project (they could paint the walls, or give you pictures or installations) and the project might even somehow get you or the college some extra funding to carry through the ideas.

Original poster

Jimjams · 22/08/2003 20:02

I agree with you tigermoth but dh hates doing that sort of stuff (otherwise I'd be writing into changing rooms and diy sos ) Mind you I know a student at the local art college- I may ask if any one would want to be paid for it.

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Davros · 22/08/2003 22:16

You could get a nice "muriel" of sky or waves...

tigermoth · 23/08/2003 14:20

davros, I don't know much about sensory rooms. Is the sky/waves muriel thing a bit of a cliche?

Jimjams, that's a pity. No chance of persuading your dh to go for it, if the college offered to do work for free?

lou33 · 23/08/2003 14:35

If you want something specific for ds that isn't available Jimjams, you could try asking Remap to make it for you.

Original poster

Jimjams · 23/08/2003 18:03

who are Remap?

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Original poster

Jimjams · 23/08/2003 18:04

Probably not tigermoth- he really really hates it.

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Davros · 23/08/2003 19:21

Tigermoth, I don't know anything about sensory rooms other than having looked at Rompa etc catalogues. Its just that waves and sky are the cliches that come to mind with frog croaking tapes, aromatherapy oils and low, calm voices. The opposite of my son's usual environment I'd love to hear more about home sensory rooms as I think its a lovely idea.

lou33 · 23/08/2003 19:26

Jimjams they are a charity made up of retired engineers, who will make things either v cheaply or foc, for people with disabilities. Things you can't get as standard. For example they made ds2 a special table so his standing frame could fit properly against it , and gave it adjustable legs so it will grow as he does. If you had an idea for a piece of equipment/toy your ds would benefit from they may be able to help. The website is here . Worth a look anyway.

Original poster

Jimjams · 23/08/2003 19:28

thanks lou- I remember you talking about them now.

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JollyJay · 26/12/2003 16:15

Jimjams, are you still making your room? It's been suggested that we turn of our rooms into an active play room (ie a room for active play) for my 2 yo. I've been looking through today (and searching on mumsnet!) and have sourced some things that have been mentioned here (bubble machine, disco ball, loads of IKEA stuff -- mostly brightly coloured, unfortunately). Let me know if you want me to post my findings. My son needs an outlet for his energy, mainly, but I've come across a lot of stuff for sn kids, too. (And just how expensive is The Sensory Company? Argh!)

(JJ -- I'm going to change my nickname back now.)

norma · 26/12/2003 17:04

If you are still planning your room, then I have recently read a very interesting article about a nursery which designed and created it's own sensory room at a fraction of the cost of buying purpose-built equipment. It is in the Dec. 11th edition of 'Nursery World' and you can have my copy if you want.

Jimjambells · 27/12/2003 08:34

We are doing the sensory room- about to start. We were given quite a bit for xmas. Disco ball with motor, and a load of money. (which would buy about 1 lamp from the sensory company ) We're going to do one end of the room in carpet, and one end with cork tiles (for trampoliine etc- also its near the garden).

The end with the carpet will have a matress - we already have this and the lights etc. No bubble tubes though as they send my son loony (lucky as they are very expensive). Going to get a projector, spotlight and colour wheel to shine on the disco ball, massaging matress (we have some massaging pillow) a selection of massage balls etc (already have a few) cd player and relaxing tapes. I think I'm going to be down there a lot

Would love your copy of nursery world norma- we should arrange an endlseigh meet up in the new year. I didn't get your email btw but I'll email you.

I've been wondering how things are going with your son JJ (cute photos btw waht a sweetie). How did he get on in the States?

Eulalia · 27/12/2003 09:09

What about some wind chimes to put near the window in the summer? I got some from dh for Christmas and had to fight ds off them... may get him some for himself in due course. Your room sounds lovely.

Jimjambells · 27/12/2003 09:34

oh going to get one of those strings of lights as well- the ones you can hold - not sure what they are called....

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