SNOEZELEN in Italy: an overview with case studies
The rehabilitative approach of Sensory Stimulation is based, on the premise, on a methodology referring to the paradigm of “choise”: persons with learning disabilities live inside a world which too difficult for them .
Opening sensory channels could help to improve their relationships with the external world; this relashionship has its central point, as for any other man and woman, in the paradigm of the “ choise”
Looking at the choises of their patients, therapists may understand what they like or not, introducing the so called “sensory “diets”.
Architects may enter in this process through a participatory design approach which helps in introducing the therapists in the design process, and consequently, through them, in the reception of the requirements of the persons that will use the Snoezelen environments.
His results in a double-folded process as the indications of the therapists are translated into design plans open to the discussion of therapist a process of reciprocal stimulus.
In several countries architectural bureaux are developing know-how on planning snoezelen rooms; they are gathering into scientific associations among which, in Italy, the Snoezelen foundation/Italian section (www.snoezelen.it ) is diffusing snoezelen through integrated planning and participatory design approach.
This approach derives its methodology from the hospital planning field (see the participatory design courses held by Professor Jan Delrue in the P.G.C. of the Architectural Engineering in Leuven) where it has been giving interesting results, as it wants to stimulate in the customers innovative solutions across:
Presentation of the reference projects realized in Italy and abroad (a reference figure is the Asghreen center, awarded best center for rehabilitation in U. K. in 2002)
The extrapolation from such solutions of the useful elements for the specific project.
The synergistic integration between spaces, instruments, rooms and conditional environments
The planning of environments for cognitive rehabilitation and particularly for those for the multi-sensory stimulation which are a lot more complex than some of the others:
The development of methodological approaches connected to the interpretive advantages of the very pronounced stimulation and, on certain appearance, possibly in contrast.
The difficulty of obtaining significant direct-feedback from the patient
The consequent involvement of the therapists dealing with the channels you interpreted and impacts of the solutions planned
At the end of this short presentation it is useful to underline that at the base of thousands of sensory stimulation environments now realized all over the world that its a comprehensive approach and that there must remain a positive relation with the neighboring world, stimulating the search across a wide plain of stimuli that involves all of the remaining senses.
Revolving around the problem of measure the effects of such interventions, it was illuminating to hear the results by researchers of HC. EngiLab & Safe from the prof. Roger Hutchinson during a meeting. I press the cited AshGreen center. “We want to create, in four snoezelen environments of our center, all of those occasions, splinters that our patients can connect with and find happynes that then stimulates them to toward the outside world, to begin from the small park realized in our center, to final end with an interest and passion to want to be confronted with sports such as hiking, sailing and bicking…”
Thesis which are shared by prominent Italian experts like prof. Lancioni of the scientific Committee of the No Profit Association “Lega del Filo d’oro” of Osimo and from the Dottssa. Piccolo, expert of reputation who operates with the Center "Garibaldi " of Reggio Emilia.
Projects for Multi-Sensory Stimulation rooms(Snoezelen) for persons with learning disabilities and specialized architectural bureaux.
In Italy the application of snoezelen approach is quite new. Among the few architectural bureaux working in this field the first one was HC-Engilab & Safe.
HC-Engilab & Safe is an architectural bureau focusing on planning of multi-sensory stimulation (SPs), indoor and outdoor, working in the field of the consultancy to public and private Authorities, in the area of the health structures, and also of the green spaces and house integrated assistance.
HC-Engilab & Safe has been having several work assignments from Municipalities (schools,etc) , Health care territorial Units (ASL), Hospitals, and private Associations; the architectural bureau HC-Engilab & Safe has created a European Partnerships with other architectural bureaux.
The staff of HC-Engilab & Safe, working from years in the Health care facilities area, developed and optimized in the time, a series of services with regards to the planning of structures for the inside and the outside spaces in the rehabilitative and health field.
The Planning and the implementation /construction of snoezelen facilities is articulated in the following phases :
Planning of the instrumental environment
Preliminary planning
Turn key project of the instruments
Definitive planning, executive and Direction you work (in function of the amount work)
Training, across courses and E-Learning
Consultancy for the purchase of the most important materials with indication from trusted suppliers.
Such services are based on a methodology of “Partecipatory Design” that puts special caution to the definition of the requirements of the users and of the trial of supply of the services, a matter of special importance in the eventual accomplishment of this matter and project.
In such specialized fields HC-Engilab & Safe operates like a integrator of skills, bringing a spacious panorama of knowledge and expert professionals in specific areas of rehabilitation.
In consideration of the numerous aspects involved in the planning of a center for SPs, the projected approach is more consistent to that of a integrated planning.
The services of planning that HC. Engilab&Safe srl develops are based on an approach of integrated planning between structures/ furnishings /instruments/installations which are favorable in economies of scale with regards to the mailing, accomplishment and management of the realized interventions.
The integrated planning is an articulated operation that expects: Preliminary planning, definitive Planning, executive Planning, Direction of work and Safety.
HC. Engi Lab&Safe is obviously in a position to carry these activities but we are also available to study collaborations with caregivers in order to grasp basic needs, which we go into more detail later.
In order to begin a study on how to transform present environments into those of multi-sensory stimulation, there are a series of necessary steps and information to be collected in function of:
A. The introductory Phase: information on the situation of the building
A1. It's physical structures
A2. furnishing with Instruments for multi-sesory stimulation
B. feasibility Diagram of study
C. Operating Check
D. Formulation of a first economical hypothesis
E. Definition of the final economical plan
F. Assignment and eventual involvement in operations of fund rising
G. Planning
H. Work Direction
I. Safety
Twenty years ago, the method Snoezelen represented a radical separation from the traditional therapeutic activity. How noted from Jan Hulsegge and from Ad Verheul in their publication of reference,” Snoezelen: An Other World, ”: "we do not want to give the therapy a central role to the inside of Snoezelen. THE Snoezelen is entirely open and it is based on the concept of choice and of sensory diets… "
Their idea of an approach not compulsory was central to their original philosophy of Snoezelen.
If their patients entered in the room like in one 'empty space', every possibility would have been open for them.
“Free from the pressures to obtain results…. free from the controls and from the routine…detached from medical diagnosis and limitations notes”, the patients could react and to answer this new sensory world in them personal and special manner.
Louise Haggar and Roger Hutchinson described this approach in their 1991 book on Whittington Hallway project. The authors defined it like “the fortifying approach ', a sensitive and altruist approach, in which an atmosphere of well-being is created and the free choice encouraged.
In addition, it is waited that the therapists share emotional positive experiences with the patients while are involved in the common activity. There is not some formal worry on the therapeutic result. Rather, the caution is dedicated to help the patients to achieve the greatest pleasure from the activity in which are involved you are and the therapist.
Today, we can examine this philosophy to the light of two decades of use more spread of SNOEZELEN in the varied structures across the world.
The published documents show numerous cases of patients who:
- have Interrupted self aggressive behaviors
- speak or smile for the first time after years
- Show peace, happiness and unusual satisfaction.
These first results in Italy moved SNOEZELEN towards a position of greater consideration in the hierarchy of the teaching and therapeutic approaches. SNOEZELEN is considered now, and several centres are joining together for sharing experiences
The two important seminars held during the reference Fair and Congress of Exposanità in 2004 and 2006 ( 23-25 May- Bologna) gave additional opportunities to caregivers involved in Snoezelen to meet each other and exchange experience.
The Acta of the 2004 Congress helped quite a lot in diffusing the outcomes of the Italian projects; they will be included in a next book on this subject presenting also the results of the 2006 Congress.
