Hidden Angel Foundation Conducts Nationwide Workshops on Multi-Sensory Enriched Environments

Pembroke-Pines, FL, May 22, 2007 – The Hidden Angel Foundation begins its summer series of workshops on multi-sensory environments (MSE) taking place across the USA and Canada. The workshops have attracted participants from as far as Brazil and the Philippines. “We are really excited that our training programs are gaining international recognition. This is an excellent indication that the MSE concept is growing around the world” comments Sandra Fornes, Executive Director.

Two Internationally recognized pioneers of multi-sensory environments will be the workshop facilitators, Ad Verheul from the Netherlands, and Linda Messbauer, from New York. Mr. Verheul is considered by many the “founding father” of multi-sensory environments (called Snoezelen in Europe) and has worked at developing MSE’s in the Netherlands and throughout Europe for over 30 years. In 1974 Ad Verheul and his colleague Jan Hulsegge introduced the idea of MSE. When they started and invented this special activity for people with profound cognitive impairment, it became a great success in a short time! “We never thought that such a simple idea would wake worldwide interest,” says Mr. Verheul. Ms. Messbauer is an Occupational Therapist with extensive experience working in the field of Developmental Disabilities. In 1992, Linda established the first MSE in the United States and, since, has participated in research on the efficacy of the MSE approach to recreational therapy and education.

The course is designed for people interested in MSE and its use with different populations: occupational, recreational and physical therapist, psychologists, speech / language therapists, parents, caregivers, teachers, master of social workers are all included in the mix.

A multi-sensory environment is a safe (non-threatening) space designed with two goals in mind: to promote intellectual activity and to encourage relaxation. This environment produces either a calming effect on individuals prone to frustration or stimulates passive individuals who appear withdrawn. These individuals rarely, if ever, experience the world as the majority of us do. Limitations of movement, vision, hearing, cognitive ability, constrained space, behavioral difficulties, perception issues, pain, and other problems create obstacles to their everyday sensory experience. MSE takes an individual on a journey through “sensory pathways” stimulating the primary senses of touch, taste, sight, sound, smell and proproception. Built to promote learning and social interaction, a myriad of lighting effects, shapes, textures, aromas, soft music and colors are strategically placed in a room to stimulate the senses and to enhance neurological, cognitive development, mobility and self-choice, leading to advancements in education and therapy.

Time spent in a multi-sensory room has been shown to increase concentration, focused attention, increase alertness, calmness, and heightened awareness, even with the most severely cognitive impaired. For those with self-injurious behaviors, the gentle stimulation has a soothing effect and helps relieve agitation, aggression and promotes relaxation. Additionally, children with perceptual difficulties appear to gain pleasure from the visual, auditory, and tactile experiences.

“We continue to develop MSEs across the country” said Sandra Fornes, co-founder. “While just about every school in Europe supports a MSE there are less than 200 facilities in the United States. Our Foundation is working diligently to increase these numbers.” The Hidden Angel Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation whose mission is to enrich the lives, health, and social well-being of individuals with cognitive, emotional, and/or physical impairments through the development and support of programs centered on multi- sensory environments (MSE). HAF has awarded grants and MSE services to programs for individuals with disabilities throughout the United States.

For further information on the Hidden Angel Foundation and MSE contact:

Sandra Fornes
P.O. Box 822886
Pembroke Pines, FL 33082
phone: 305-458-9335
email: sfornes@cdhaf.org
website: www.cdhaf.org