Multisensory System

Mike Ayres Design

Sensory Integration Equipment

Mike Ayres is a professional designer with 30 years experience in creating equipment and environments for people with special needs. Mike was instrumental in introducing the Dutch concept of ‘Snoezelen’ into Britain in the 1980's. Since then he has worked on multi-sensory concepts, environments and products for care and education.

Mike Ayres is a professional designer with 35 years of experience creating equipment and enironments for people with special and additional needs. Since the 1980s, he has focused on developing multi-sensory concepts, environments and products for care and education. By creating a feeling of comfort and safety, patients can relax, explore and enjoy the surroundings.

Surrounded by multiple objects and experience a range of visual, auditory, olfactory and tactile stimuli, the brain is faced with the decision of how to categorize the stimuli resulting from different objects or events in the physical world.

Multi-sensory therapy become widely used in the following fields of care:

- Adult learning disabilities

- Dementia care

- Children with special needs

- Paediatrics

- Maternity

- Management of chronic pain

- Adult psycgiatry

- Stroke and traumatic brain injury

Visual Effects

Bubble Tubes / Bubble Walls

Bubbles Tubes / Walls are one of the most universally popular pieces of equipment in any Sensory or Relaxation Room and Mike Ayres Design has a wide range to choose from.

Features:

8 Colour changes: A bright spectrum of 8 clear colours which gently change when used passively.
Wired or wireless control: Plug switches directly into the Bubble Tube / Wall Controller or have instant radio remote control with unique Switch4 Interactive Control..
Several Size: Bubble Tubes diameter range from 15cm to 50cm with height from 1m to 2m. Bubble Walls with width 134cm to 214cm.

Fibre Optic Lights

A relaxing visual effect, offering opportunity for interaction and interest for people with profound difficulties. The tails of fibre optics powered by LED light source, the colours are crisp, bright, controllable and you never need to replace a lamp.

Features:

Bright and true colours
You never need to replace a bulb
8 Dierent adjustable programmes. Including passive, stepping colour, latched, momentary, timed and colour mixing.
Several tail lenghts are available

Projection and Light Effects

A Pinsot creates a narrow beam of light to focus on Mirror Balls, reflective objects or small areas on the wall. TheColour Wheel provides a gentle colour change to the spots of light. When used with a Mirrorball, all the reflected spots of light will gently change as they move around the room. Several size and motor speed are available.

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Auditory Effects

Soundbeam 5

The moment a child or adult with profound impairments realises they are creating the musical notes they are hearing is unforgettable. Soundbeam 5 delivers these types of opportunities and experiences to everyone. A unique device, Soundbeam uses beams as invisible keyboards in space. Entirely adjustable in length, number of keys and direction, beams can be tailored to reflect the individual’s needs.

Features:

128 Soundsets (combinations of music or theme-based sounds for up to four beams and eight switches)
Internal synthesiser (256 musical instruments/Sounds)
On-board sampler/session recorder
Micro SD card slot
Adjustable Beam range

Video DVDs for creating theme

Here is a range of seven DVDs that can be used in your Sensory Room.

A Day at the Beach
Flow
Underwater Wonders
Pure Earth
Pure Earth and Beyond
Fireworks
Nature’s Alarm Clock

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Olfactory Stimuli

Aroma Stream Diffuser

Transform the mood of any space with oils gently diffused via two settings; normal and boost. Filter pads hold the oil and additional ones are recommended to prevent merging of aromas over time.

Aroma and Diffuser Kit C

The kit consists of an Aroma Mouse Diffuser and a set of 12 essential oil blends in a wooden box. The Mouse can be battery or mains powered and has fan assisted diffusion. It is very easy to use, needs no water and is not hot to the touch. The oil blends provided are a selection to de-stress, focus, relax and create different moods.

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Tactile Stimuli

All Things Tactile

Tactile sensation is a fundamental part of your overall sensory experience. It acts as a media for exploration and enhances the understanding of the environment around you.

Rough and smooth, soft and hard, warm and cold, angular and curved, embossed and impressed, rigid and flexible, fine and coarse, linear and meandering, regular and random, absorbent and reflective. These are all properties considered when creating a mural, as well as overall shape, size, colour, safety of materials used, flow of movement, as you explore it.

Very Tactile Caterpillar

Originally designed by Jessica Ayres (Mike’s daughter), this wonderful exploration of form and texture fits very well in public or open spaces within a building. Feel and trace the textures whilst discussing what the caterpillar could possibly eat to have such a varied skin.

Sizes: Small 150 x 72cm – Large 238 x 98cm

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Interactive Panel

Sound and Light Floors

Wonderfully interactive, the sound and Light Floor is instantly responsive to the most sensitive touch and yet can be jumped on by the heaviest adult or trundled over by people in wheelchairs.

Features:

8 Interactive and passive activities with setting variations
16 different Instrument and Sound options
Adjustable timer for completion of games and levels
No lamp failures, it uses LED Technology
Options of 9 / 12 / 16 panel with only 4cm deep

Touch, Sound and Light Panels

A range of games encourage individual and cooperative interaction, each with different levels of difficulties. The Panel is designed for use by anyone of any disability, from the most dependent child to the most boisterous adult. Spectacular discs light up and provide clear notes and sounds just by touching them.

Features:

8 interactive and passive activities with variations
16 different instrument and sound options
Adjustable times for completion of games and difficulty levels
Responsive to fingertip touch and rohust, energetic use
No lamps to replace, it uses LED technology

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Control Panels

Easy Switch

The most basic Control System – Plug single Switches directly into the equipment. Use 1 or 2 Switches or a Nine Switch Keyboard. Step through colours, select colour, bubbles, and ON / OFF options.

Switch2

Enables you to switch basic equipment in 4 different modes. Plug any relevant piece of equipment into the Switch2 Control Unit and use any type of Switch to control it in a mode of your choice; On, Latched, Momentary or Timed.

This can be done manually (plug switches directly into the Control Unit) or Radio Remotely (with Switches plugged into a Universal Transmitter).

Switch4

A much more comprehensive type of control, that can be used manually and radio remotely with single or multiple Switches. It has up to 8 different programmes, each with a range of switching options appropriate for the individual piece of equipment. It enables you to tailor the operation of the equipment to any persons specific needs and abilities.

Switch4 iPad Control

Programme and switch individual pieces of equipment and your whole room with the Switch4 app. This is the most advanced Sensory Environment control available, and it is developing further assets as new equipment and needs arise. One touch – to select the equipment. One touch – to select the programme. ...and one touch to turn the whole iPad into one or any number of switches. The iPad will programme and switch anything plugged into any Switch2 Control Unit, and any Switch4 Interactive equipment. All equipment can still be operated with physical switches, both manually and radio remotely.