Opening up a new world of sight, sound and smell to the physically and mentally disabled was the rationale behind the Snoezelen Room at WindReach Recreational Village when it opened last April. As The Royal Gazette's Nancy Acton reports, the special sensory room, located on the lower level of the Warwick facility, provides an all-encompassing atmosphere of serenity and relaxation in which those who enter enjoy the gentle stimulation offered by various light, sound and scent combinations.

The Snoezelen Room's equipment includes a fibre-optic spray; a bubbling, water-filled tube with automatic colour changes, a variety of pretty light patterns reflected on the walls and ceiling, a Catherine wheel with variable-speed sequential lighting, a mirrored disco ball, and a vibrating mat. There is also a sound system, and another which emits delicate scents, such as lavender.Seating is either in a suspended hammock chair; on any combination of stacked cushions; in the client's own wheelchair, or even a hospital bed.

'Snoezelen' is actually a contraction of two Dutch words which translate as 'sniffing' and 'dozing,' and the room was developed in Holland as a means of providing appropriate relaxation and leisure facilities to people with sensory and learning disabilities.

While the WindReach room was originally designed to provide light and sound stimulation for the severely mentally and physically disabled, since last September its use has also expanded to include special needs children from the public school system, with noticeably positive results.

Dellwood Middle School learning support co-ordinator Dorann Simons is typical of those who work closely with such students. A qualified trainer in the use of this room, she has, in turn, trained all of the paraprofessionals at her school and is very supportive of the concept - so much so, in fact, that she is even creating a sensory environment in her own home because of its stress-reducing benefits. Twice a week Mrs. Simons takes two groups from Dellwood to use the Warwick facility.

"Overall, the room is definitely beneficial," she says. "One child in particular has behaviour and academic challenges. During the first couple of weeks of school last September he was constantly fighting to hide the fact that he has academic challenges. Based on his home environment, he was very negative, and depending on how the rest of his day after school went, these types of behaviour came to school with him the following day. After just one session in the sensory room he became a lot calmer. He hasn't had a fight since last November, his attitude is a lot more positive, and the paraprofessional who works directly with him confirms other behaviour changes. In fact, he now asks to ensure that we are going to the Snoezelen room."

Mrs. Simons adds that, following this student's Christmas break when access to the sensory room was suspended, there was a perceptible, though not drastic slip, in his progress, which has now been corrected.

In the case of two students with spastic muscles, Mrs. Simons says these become noticeably more relaxed during the sessions. Another child, who had never vocalised, suddenly started doing so in the room, much to the astonishment and delight of his speech therapist, who now works with him in that environment.

Children who participate in the Riding for the Disabled programme, which is based at WindReach, have developed a higher level of concentration thanks to their sessions in the sensory room.

It has also been discovered that caregivers of the severely handicapped are also benefitting from joining their charges in the room. With the outside world firmly shut out, the up to 60 minutes that they spend there becomes pure relaxation.

"They relax because the child is fascinated," WindReach activities coordinator Mrs. Miranda Mello says. "Because it is a totally safe environment and no harm can befall the child, they have nothing to worry about. In fact, one child who had never relaxed even for a moment achieved a remarkable two minutes of complete relaxation in the room."

Examples of its benefits are many - and growing daily - and Mrs. Mello says this is partly due to the fact that, unlike structured therapy programmes, use of the room is entirely "client driven." Users are free to spend up to an hour enjoying whatever effects, or combinations of effects, they prefer. Special controls allow them, or their caregivers, to change lighting effects and music at will.

The fibre optic cascade is a favourite whose strands can be picked up in bunches, draped over the head and/or body, and played with as desired. Music is either provided by WindReach or the client, according to individual preferences.

With clients who are unable to express their preferences, various effects are tried until interest is registered through facial expression, and then the accompanying person knows what to focus on to produce a positive result. One deaf mute client, for example, loves the Magiglow board, which allows whatever is drawn on the board to glow.

"Mine," she suddenly exclaimed the first time she saw the initial of her first name illuminated.

In another case, a brain-damaged baby relaxes completely when placed on the vibration mat, so the room's benefits are as varied as the clients who use them, and WindReach is currently working with the cancer charity, PALS, to make the room accessible to its clients.

There are now close to 80 individuals who have been trained in the use of Snoezelen room facilities.

"This is because you have to have an understanding not only of the client but also how it can impact on the relationship, medical concept, and the caregiver's understanding of their client," Mrs. Horsefield says. "It has been our priority to train as many individuals as we can."

"Thus far there have been seven training sessions for groups of up to 20 within the first year," Mrs. Mello adds. She is the official sensory room trainer.

Soon, work will begin on partitioning off an area immediately outside the Snoezelen room to make it into a flexible reception/play area, complete with soft toys, which will be condusive to preparing individuals for the sensory experience.

"We have had some great feedback from individuals who are using the room which is helping us to determine the way in which we should go forward, and funding is due in large part to the John and Beryl Campbell Trust, W.P. Stewart, Project 100 and the Eastern Lions Club," Mrs. Horsfield says.

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the property work has begun on the Tebin Project, which will be the final phase to complete the original WindReach Recreational Village plan," Mrs. Horsefield says.

"The 'tebin' is a cross between a tent and a cabin with the additional feature that is a fully accessible structure," Mrs. Horsefield says. "It will accommodate up to six people, and allow physically challenged individuals in wheelchairs to go camping, either for a day, overnight, or for a camping holiday with their family. It will mean WindReach can provide overnight accommodation for the first time, and already people in wheelchairs both here and abroad have expressed interest in booking."

Sponsorship for two of the tebins has been provided by Project 100 and Random Acts of Kindness.

Preparation work for the foundations has been completed by volunteers, and now WindReach is appealing for volunteers, skilled and unskilled, to participate in erecting the tebins themselves over a two-day period on March 9 and 10.

"It will be similar to a barn raising," Mrs. Horsefield says. "We will start from scratch, and by the end of the weekend the structures will be up. They are a combination of wood, and roll-up, roll-down canvas "walls" with no windows. Six volunteers from WindReach Farm in Canada have elected to join us, and we need 60 local volunteers to help as well. All wood will be pre-cut so that it is ready to use on the day. Anyone wishing to join us should contact John Watkins at 238-2469."

Mrs. Horsefield is proud to note that it has been strictly "Buy Bermuda" in terms of materials for this project, thanks to local suppliers, including Gorham's, who provided generous discounts.

"We are so pleased to have their help and support," she says.

In addition, the public is being given an opportunity to fund-raise for WindReach through a "Walk and Roll" walk that is fully wheelchair accessible, and which everyone can complete.

BTC Mobility is sponsoring the event, which takes place on Saturday, February 16, with registration at 9 a.m. Early registration includes a free T-shirt. Pledge forms are available from any BTC Mobility dealer, or on the website www.windreach.org. For further information ( Mrs. Mello at 238-2469.

Monies raised will go towards the operating expenses of the recreational village.