Sensory cafés to roll out across AEM

A programme to increase activities for people who have difficulties with sensory processing is set to be rolled out across Autism East Midlands this year.

It follows the success of a pilot sensory session, which was held at Derbyshire’s Mundy Street centre this month. More than 15 people joined the first Sensory Café, which was organised by the centre’s registered manager Rebecca Mozley with the support of AEM’s Clinical Team.

Assistant psychologists, Ruth Burnett and Adam Powdrill led activities designed to stimulate the senses using, for example, lemons for taste, food colourings and glitter for sight, and scented candles to generate smells.

“We were really pleased how well the first session went,” explained Louise Haggar, AEM’s Consultant Clinical Psychologist. “The aim was to help engage and make the environment more interesting and empowering for people with severe learning disabilities and for individuals with autism who have difficulties with sensory processing.”

Different activities were organised for individuals depending on their sensitivity to specific sights, sounds, smells and textures. Some joined the session for an hour or two, while others took part for the whole day.

Added Louise: “It proved so successful that we’re planning to offer mobile Sensory Cafés to other services with a view to inspiring staff to try new sensory activities and give our teams fresh new ideas.”