Implementation of an inclusive design program “Friendly environment for people with mental illness”. Report of development of a sensory room and art therapy tools.
The article describes a process of creating specialized design program for people with mental illness, based in a museum. The design program included planning and implementation of a sensory room with a set of art therapy modules, a navigation system and a manual of suggested techniques for conducting classes on the basis of the room.
Dynamic sculpture "Ball"
The kinetic sculpture "Ball" is equipped with an optical effect, and it seems possible to attribute it to the direction defined as "op art". Note that mirror balls are often used in sensory rooms - an outdated and unchanging technique. Our ball is an experimental design that has received a patent. The authors invented improvements, this device was presented to the viewer for the first time as part of the implementation of the design program. However, it is worth noting that the module cannot be shown to people with epilepsy, just like a mirror ball.
The kinetic sculpture "Ball" is equipped with an optical effect, and it seems possible to attribute it to the direction defined as "op art". Note that mirror balls are often used in sensory rooms - an outdated and unchanging technique. Our ball is an experimental design that has received a patent. The authors invented improvements, this device was presented to the viewer for the first time as part of the implementation of the design program. However, it is worth noting that the module cannot be shown to people with epilepsy, just like a mirror ball.
Game column with holes and ropes
By threading the cord through the holes, the user has the opportunity to create a variety of graphic shapes, the variations of which are endless. This game helps to forget about anxieties, develops motor skills, imaginative thinking, encourages the creative process. It is in the course of the lesson that the visitor finds peace and acquires balance. By weaving a thick cord into the perforated surface, the user trains the hand, develops fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. The game has a positive effect on the development of cognitive processes, such as thinking, memory, attention, as well as a clearer interaction of visual and tactile analyzers, fine motor skills, imagination and perception. All these factors stimulate the development of the human cognitive sphere. This module contains the possibility of meeting several people, i.e. we do not exclude the possibility of contact between a neurotypical and a neurodivergent person, which in turn can have a beneficial effect on both parties.
By threading the cord through the holes, the user has the opportunity to create a variety of graphic shapes, the variations of which are endless. This game helps to forget about anxieties, develops motor skills, imaginative thinking, encourages the creative process. It is in the course of the lesson that the visitor finds peace and acquires balance. By weaving a thick cord into the perforated surface, the user trains the hand, develops fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. The game has a positive effect on the development of cognitive processes, such as thinking, memory, attention, as well as a clearer interaction of visual and tactile analyzers, fine motor skills, imagination and perception. All these factors stimulate the development of the human cognitive sphere. This module contains the possibility of meeting several people, i.e. we do not exclude the possibility of contact between a neurotypical and a neurodivergent person, which in turn can have a beneficial effect on both parties.
Game column with holes and ropes
By threading the cord through the holes, the user has the opportunity to create a variety of graphic shapes, the variations of which are endless. This game helps to forget about anxieties, develops motor skills, imaginative thinking, encourages the creative process. It is in the course of the lesson that the visitor finds peace and acquires balance. By weaving a thick cord into the perforated surface, the user trains the hand, develops fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. The game has a positive effect on the development of cognitive processes, such as thinking, memory, attention, as well as a clearer interaction of visual and tactile analyzers, fine motor skills, imagination and perception. All these factors stimulate the development of the human cognitive sphere. This module contains the possibility of meeting several people, i.e. we do not exclude the possibility of contact between a neurotypical and a neurodivergent person, which in turn can have a beneficial effect on both parties.
By threading the cord through the holes, the user has the opportunity to create a variety of graphic shapes, the variations of which are endless. This game helps to forget about anxieties, develops motor skills, imaginative thinking, encourages the creative process. It is in the course of the lesson that the visitor finds peace and acquires balance. By weaving a thick cord into the perforated surface, the user trains the hand, develops fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. The game has a positive effect on the development of cognitive processes, such as thinking, memory, attention, as well as a clearer interaction of visual and tactile analyzers, fine motor skills, imagination and perception. All these factors stimulate the development of the human cognitive sphere. This module contains the possibility of meeting several people, i.e. we do not exclude the possibility of contact between a neurotypical and a neurodivergent person, which in turn can have a beneficial effect on both parties.
The sensory room is a specially equipped space, more often a separate room filled with sensory modules (devices that act on the visitor's senses and have a relaxing, distracting, developing or activating effect). This is a room where the visitor, in case of emotional overload, can relax and calm down. People in this category may experience discomfort in contact with the environment, for example, in relation to sound, smell, light, color, touch. In addition, there is a typical tendency to fixate on unpleasant impressions for a long time. To switch this state, a visit to the sensory room or the emotional release room can be an effective means. The benefit of this space lies not only in changing the environment and providing the visitor with new sensory experiences, but also in the possibility of contact with a neurotypical person who, at the time of visiting the room, may be in this space, which, in turn, can be useful for a visitor with psycho-communicative who has the opportunity to gain experience in social development, and the opponent acquires new knowledge about the difference in the individual characteristics of people, this contact contains one of the components of inclusiveness.
Light portal module
At the entrance to the sensory room there is a fiber-optic (fiber - fiber, thread) shower, which consists of two hundred luminous fibers. Passing through the light portal, a person plunges into another dimension that can affect many senses. The mirror frame of the portal creates endless light corridors.
At the entrance to the sensory room there is a fiber-optic (fiber - fiber, thread) shower, which consists of two hundred luminous fibers. Passing through the light portal, a person plunges into another dimension that can affect many senses. The mirror frame of the portal creates endless light corridors.
Sensory devices in this case act as art therapy modules that can be divided into groups that affect certain sense organs, for example, designed for people with great visual perception (for visuals) or tactile (for kinesthetics), auditory (for auditory).
Tactile wall module "Frozen drops"
The “Frozen Drops” tactile module became the prototype of mysterious karst caves where you can see unique miraculous surrealistic forms in the form of stalactites and stalagmites. In our case, the drops are soft, warm and pleasant to the touch.
The “Frozen Drops” tactile module became the prototype of mysterious karst caves where you can see unique miraculous surrealistic forms in the form of stalactites and stalagmites. In our case, the drops are soft, warm and pleasant to the touch.
Turning to the affective experience of the reader, we expect that everyone can remember their childhood fascination with the movement of dust particles in a sunbeam or snowflakes in the light of a street lamp, flickering shadows from a fence grating, wallpaper ornament, movement along the pattern of pavement tiles. Everyone knows about the calming effect of walking by the water, in the park, contemplating the movement of branches and clouds, the rhythm of the surf, the voices of birds and the murmur of a stream; we get the same impressions when we stand thoughtlessly at the window, absentmindedly looking at the distant bustle of the street.
Acoustic cylinder and tactile module Fur Wall
Acoustically, the cylinder is designed to focus sound in the corner area of the room. Touching a soft, safe wall, a person not only stimulates his tactile sensations, but also hears the sound of pouring sand or “white noise”, which sounds during the touch, imitating a breath of wind. The faster the visitor runs their hand across the wall, the richer the sound travels in the acoustic cylinder, which limits its propagation in the sensory room. The module develops cognitive activity, thinking, auditory attention and its concentration.
Acoustically, the cylinder is designed to focus sound in the corner area of the room. Touching a soft, safe wall, a person not only stimulates his tactile sensations, but also hears the sound of pouring sand or “white noise”, which sounds during the touch, imitating a breath of wind. The faster the visitor runs their hand across the wall, the richer the sound travels in the acoustic cylinder, which limits its propagation in the sensory room. The module develops cognitive activity, thinking, auditory attention and its concentration.
Light module "Rainbow beam"
The "Rainbow Beam" module is an experimental development by S. Karlov (an engineer who is part of the design team). This beam is directed at the wall and produces a large number of various smooth projections, which are distinguished by special plasticity and bionicity, associatively referring to the movements of underwater creatures (jellyfish, stingrays or algae).
The "Rainbow Beam" module is an experimental development by S. Karlov (an engineer who is part of the design team). This beam is directed at the wall and produces a large number of various smooth projections, which are distinguished by special plasticity and bionicity, associatively referring to the movements of underwater creatures (jellyfish, stingrays or algae).
