The multisensory environment: providing a feeling of emotional closeness

Abstract

In this paper I make a first tentative move towards developing a theory to help shape Multisensory Environment use for individuals with profound, multiple disabilities. The theory rests on a five-step repetitive cycle of: 1 a widening of experience; 2 occidental nature of opportunity; 3 cooperation; 4 comfort; and 5 stability. This theory connects these five steps into a unified whole. It is the form of the relationship between these five steps that provides an explanation as to how change might occur within the MSE to enable the individual to achieve a feeling of emotional closeness.