Background
Sensory experience is important for individuals with intellectual disability and autism, and sensory stimulation can provide enjoyment and relaxation. Multi-Sensory Environments (MSEs or ‘sensory rooms’) are commonly found in schools, hospitals, and community care settings. They are adaptive spaces containing a range of equipment designed to stimulate the senses. Despite their widespread use, very little research has explored the benefits and challenges of using the rooms or provided evidenced-based research on best practice. Our previous research found that the potential benefits of MSEs depended on how they were used and the user’s sensory profile (e.g. Unwin, Powell & Jones, 2021). The PhD project will translate novel research from our custom-designed MSE into practical improvements in the home environments of people with intellectual disability and autism.
Rationale and aims
There is very little research on how to best enhance sensory experience of adults with intellectual disability and autism in their home environments. Travel to a community sensory room is not always possible or frequent, and so ideally sensory-needs should also be met at home. The PhD student will work closely with the Innovate Trust, who are the largest supported living provider for individuals with an intellectual disability in South Wales and an international leader in increasing digital inclusion for those with intellectual disability. By harnessing the potential of new smart technologies, the PhD will translate the benefits of sensory stimulation gained by being in an MSE into peoples’ homes. The student will work with Innovate Trust and the people they support to develop new home-based sensory experiences. A secondary aim of the project is to understand more about the sensory experience of adults with an intellectual disability and autism, and the ways in which MSEs and sensory stimulation can be tailored to individual needs.
Anticipated design and methods
The PhD will be based in the Wales Autism Research Centre (WARC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University. Housed within the Cardiff University Centre for Human Developmental Science, WARC has a customed-designed MSE that will support the project.
The project will take a two-stage approach, with final decisions about design being driven by the student. First, individuals with an intellectual disability (who are and are not autistic) will be assessed using established methods that examine the effects of different sensory experiences (e.g. observing behaviours in the MSE; physiological measures of arousal in the MSE; qualitative interviews, sensory questionnaires). These findings will help us to understand how participants’ sensory profiles relate to their sensory needs and preferences, as well as the effect of MSE stimulation on behaviour and affect. Second, we will use novel smart technologies to recreate aspects of the MSEs in the homes of people with an intellectual disability. For example, someone who responded to visual stimulation could control lights and other visual stimuli in their home via integration with a smart speaker (e.g. Amazon Alexa). Outcomes will focus on wellbeing, relaxation and stimulation, via interviews and structured surveys.
Applicants are welcome to contact the supervisors on the project for a discussion prior to applying.
Applications are invited from exceptional candidates with a first class or strong upper second-class honours degree, or appropriate Master’s degree. The University values diversity and equality at all levels and we encourage applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
In line with our commitment to supporting and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, and to increase recruitment of currently underrepresented groups, applications from Black British, Asian British, minority ethnicity British and mixed race British candidates are particularly encouraged and welcomed. We welcome applications for both full and part-time study.
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