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University of Edinburgh
 

Sensory Rooms and Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI)

Presented on Friday, 6th November 2015

Content

This course explored the visual brain and practical strategies for working in sensory rooms with children and young people with cerebral visual impairment. Course content included:

  • The visual brain. A model of how it works and how it can be damaged.
  • Understanding the mind of the child with CVI. Thinking in terms of 'Time, Place and Person'. Why does removing all clutter, and sometimes making it dark, make a big difference for some children with profound CVI?
  • Case studies of a colour tent as a 'little room' sensory environment for children with cerebral visual impairment.
  • How to create different styles of tent sensory environments linked to assessment and sensory programmes.
  • Questions, discussion and how to make it happen.

Participants said:

"Appropriately paced, humorous and engaging. Really accessible and a good refresher for me regarding the brain functioning in vision."

"The material was presented in a factual, yet warm, humorous way. Very informative."

Target Audience

Those working with children/young people with complex needs, including teachers, ASN assistants, early years practitioners, habilitation specialists, allied heath professionals, educational psychologists and parents.

Presenters

Professor Gordon Dutton and Suzanne Little, Specialist Teacher, Scope's Meldreth Manor School, Hertfordshire

Programme

10.10 am How I discovered that surrounding a child with CVI with a curtain can make a difference - Suzanne Little

10.25 am The visual brain. A model of how it works and how it can be damaged - Gordon Dutton

11.30 am Understanding the mind of the child with CVI. Thinking in terms of ‘Time, Place and Person’; Why does removing all clutter, and sometimes making it dark, make a big difference for some children with profound CVI? - Gordon Dutton

12.15 pm Questions and discussion.

1.30 pm Case studies of a colour tent as a 'little room' sensory environment for children with CVI - Suzanne Little

2.30 pm How to create different styles of tent sensory environments linked to assessment and sensory programmes. - Suzanne Little

3.15 pm Questions, discussion and how to make it happen - Suzanne Little

Possibilities for research and shared information about the benefits of a decluttered sensory environment for children with CVI and complex needs.

3.45 pm Course Evaluation and close