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MSE Lab Digital Resources
Home-Based Sensory Solutions
Summer Recap
When the pandemic first happened I thought creating this digital newsletter would provide some easy programming ideas for caregivers , parents, support workers, other professionals in the field and friends, during a difficult time. I have included the links to all previous issues below if you happened to miss one. Moving forward, I will continue to release at least 1 digital newsletter per month. I am always open to feedback and if there is a certain topic that you are interested in learning more about, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email!
In addition to the monthly newsletter, as some of you are aware, the MSE Lab partnered with our Expressive Arts students this summer for an interactive virtual programming field placement experience. The students were paired with members of the MSE Lab who were then provided with at least three 45-minute virtually- led expressive arts sessions. Some of these sessions included painting, sensory play, story telling, music, guided meditations among many other creative modalities. The entire experience went extremely well and feedback from participants revealed that the programming couldn't have come at a better time. I was present for most of the sessions and it was so lovely to see some of your faces again, hear your voice and simply "be with you":)
As you will have likely heard by now, Mohawk College and more specifically, the Multi-Sensory Lab will remain closed ,as per the email memo that was sent out earlier this month (please see below).
"As we get set to enter the month of September, there will continue to be limited on-campus services available and general access to the campus will not be permitted. The Fall semester will begin as planned in early September, however; with all lecture-based program components delivered in a remote/virtual environment. Additionally, all internal events will continue to run virtually until the end of December 2020".
With that said and due to the success of the MSE Lab and Expressive Arts partnership, I have been brainstorming about the possibility of providing sensory-based programming via a virtual platform.
To provide you with a bit more context, these virtual sessions could be provided to individuals or groups and could include some of the following:
- Guided Sensory Stories
- Expressive arts using the senses
- Sensory Strategies Sessions
- One-on-one sensory diets
- "Check-in" and questions
If this is something that you and the individual whom you support would be interested in, please send me an email directly to:
multisensorylab@mohawkcollege.ca
It has certainly been a busy summer full of ups and downs but I will leave you with a quote that I have seen over and over again either on business windows on the quiet streets of my home-town or tweeted and retweeted online by friends, coworkers and family:
"tough times never last; but tough people do"- R. Schuller.
Previous Editions
Issue 1- Audio & Visual Systems
Issue 2- Tactile System
Issue 3- Auditory System
Issue 4- Olfactory System
Issue 5- Self Care
Issue 6- Water-Based Play
Partnership with Expressive Arts Students
In memory of Amy Ocampo
It truly was a remarkable partnership and we have Amy Ocampo, Field Placement Specialist in the Educational Support program and the Expressive Arts Program, to thank for bringing the partnership to life. Amy always did have a knack for innovation and for bringing people together. Unfortunately, it is with heartfelt sadness that I inform you that Amy passed away suddenly earlier this week. Amy was a bright light, an amazing educator, and beautiful friend. She was passionate, creative, innovative, and such a wonderful part of the Mohawk College Community. Amy will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched and fondly remembered for years to come. She was one of the greats.
To honour Amy I have decided to include samples of some of the expressive arts sessions that the Expressive Arts Students created over this past summer. She, like myself, was so proud of the work these students did and the magic they made happen.
(Permission to post was granted).
Kori's field placement experience
Vafa and her partner making art with food stamps!
Follow this link to see the session in action!
Mariette & her partner creating abstract art with paint and vivid colours.
Kayla & her partner "feeling" the music.
Follow this link to see the session in action (warning, be prepared to have your heart melted!)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCMRS7JH1hd/?igshid=1svsmn2343fqe
Kori creating music for the heART with her participants
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDPIF-bnVje/?igshid=54w9du73linm
Possibility of Return?
Well, it's been a long edition of Home-based Sensory Solutions so I shall leave it with one final message....
The MSE Lab will be undergoing a risk-assessment to determine what needs to be put in place in order to safely welcome our community clients back to the program. However, in the meantime we are trying to determine the following:
"if the MSE Lab is given the green light to welcome community members back, with a likely altered schedule, we would like to know your current thoughts on returning to this space."
If you have not already done so, please follow the link below which will take you directly to a survey that has 2 questions. I promise it will take you less than 20 seconds to complete!
Thank you for your continued patience, support and for being you! Enjoy the remaining days of summer!
Cheers,
Kaela