Mohawk College's Multi-Sensory Lab

What is the Multi-Sensory Lab all about?

• Incorporates sensory equipment to help clients reach/advance their education and therapy goals.
• The room fosters an environment that blends sights, sounds, textures, aromas and motion to provide stimulation of ones’ primary senses.
• This client-centered room can be modified to meet specific sensory needs.
• The most important benefit of all is that the client will have the opportunity for a meaningful leisure experience!

History of the Multi-Sensory Environment

• The concept of a Multi-Sensory Lab was created in the 1970’s by Jan Hulsegge and Ad Verheul, two Dutch Therapists.
• The two therapists worked at an institute for people with intellectual disabilities.
• It was during one summer that they created an experimental sensory tent for one of the institute’s annual summer fairs.
• The tent was full of basic equipment and objects that would essentially create some sort of effect. For example, they had a fan that blew shards of paper into the air or bottles full of scented liquids.
• The experimental tent was a huge success and it appeared that people with intellectual disabilities were actually demonstrating positive verbal and non-verbal reactions and feedback while visiting the tent.
• The two therapists coined the sensory experience a "Snoezelen" experience.
• Snoezelen is actually a combination of the two Dutch verbs "snuffelen" (to seek out/explore) and "dozelen" (to relax).

MSE Lab Community Program

For MSE Lab community session booking, please contact

Kaela Millar
Multi-Sensory Lab Technologist
kaela.millar@mohawkcollege.ca

Phone: 905-575-1212 | Fax: 905-575-2378
135 Fennell Avenue West
Hamilton, ON L9C 0E5 Canada
mohawkcollege.ca

Programs associated with the MSE Lab

Programs that have integrated the Foundations of "Multi-Sensory Environments & Gentle Teaching" training within their program:

• Recreation Therapy (283)
• Brain Disorders Management (470)
• Mental Health Disorders Management (475)
• Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant (746)
• Early Childhood Education (213)
• Educational Support (747)

Upcoming training opportunities

Multi Sensory Environments | Mohawk College

Mohawk Press about the Lab

• Virtual tour of MSE Lab
• Mohawk College Opens the First Multi-Sensory Room for an Ontario College
• Spotlight on: Kaela Millar
• Access in Practice
• Mohawk's Multi-Sensory Room

Photo Gallery