PROGRAMME

The conference will be moderated by Eva Söderbaum, CEO TFH Sensory Europe
and Stefan Eklund, supervisor at Eldorado Resource Center.

The conference will be opened by the President of ISNA, Maurits Eijgendaal, and a representative from the City of Gothenburg.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

PROGRAMME

The conference will start on Friday the 25th of October at 9am and conclude Saturday the 26th at 4pm.
Apart from the main events there will on two occasions be parallel seminars. There is a limited number of participant slots available for these and we apply the principle of first come, first served.

Friday 25th of October

09.00 Welcome addresses and opening of the conference

09.25 Keynote 1 Oxytocin, the hormone of wellbeing and health

Kerstin Uvnäs Moberg is a former Associate Professor at Karolinska University and Professor Emeritus at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

Kerstin will describe the oxytocin system; a short description of localization and a more extensive description of the effects, such as reduced anxiety, pain, inflammation, stress as well as increased wellbeing, calm and restoration. She will also describe how these effects can be activated by touch and by social interaction of different kinds such as human-human and human-animal interaction as well as how repeated stimulation of the oxytocin system leads to better mental and physical health.

10.40 Keynote 2: Sensory approaches for older people with dementia with Lesley Collier

Professor Lesley Collier is an Occupational Therapist working within the Faculty of Health and Well-being at the University of Winchester. Lesley has a clinical interest in sensory integration and cognitive impairment. She has led and participated in national and international research programmes related to sensory processing and sensory stimulation for people with cognitive impairment.

The presentation will review the evidence supporting the use of sensory approaches for people with cognitive impairment, with reference to assessment tools and intervention protocols.

11.30 Revolutionary Concept in the treatment of Pain and Depression

Peter Michael Nielsen, M.D., Senior Consultant, Neurology, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Holbaek is the Inventor of a patented innovative treatment modality utilizing the impact of music on the human central nervous system: HALF-MIS, High Amplitude Low Frequency Music Impulse Stimulation

The presentation will be about the scientific background for the innovative modality and the mechanisms involved: the neurophysiology and the neurochemistry. It will also go into the technology developed to produce the impact, the scientific evidence and the results of previous and ongoing research as well as the perspectives of future treatments of various conditions.

Lunchbreak

1.40 pm Parallell seminars.
Choose one of these options (at your registration). Available seats in parentheses.

Option 1: Activation of the Oxytocin system by different kinds of stimulation with Kerstin Uvnäs Moberg.
Main seminar room (no limit)

Workshop content
In her second presentation, Kerstin will discuss and provide examples of how to stimulate and activate the oxytocin system.

Option 2: BBAUM – Calming Treatment for Behaviorally Challenged People with Marlene Jul Houmann

Room: Gläntan (20)

Marlene has a Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy (2006) and Clinical Competences in Basic Body Awareness Therapy (2014). Her field of work is people with cognitive impairment and behavioral and/or psychiatric symptoms. Since 2008, Marlene has mainly worked with people with BPSD. She developed BBAUM in 2008. Since 2011, Marlene have taught BBAUM across Denmark and worked with implementation of BBAUM in hospitals, nursing homes, and institutions. In 2015, she received the "Innovation and Entrepreneur Award" from the Danish Physiotherapists Region Zealand for the development of BBAUM.

Workshop content
BBAUM is a manual therapy developed in 2008 to reduce behavioral and psychiatric symptoms. Originally, BBAUM was made for a woman with extreme BPSD. Subsequently, clinical experiences indicated a more general applicability and today BBAUM is used for several target groups in institutions and hospitals all over Denmark. BBAUM is based on an existential and body phenomenological view of human life. The treatment consists of six therapeutic touches which are a combination of gentle facilitation and deep pressure massage. The aim of the treatment is to increase physical and mental health, relational competences, level of functioning, and satisfaction in life.

Option 3: Water dance – A splash of stimulation with André Frank

Room: The pool (20)

André Frank is a physiotherapist with experience of working with various disabilities for 30 years at the Center for Adult Habilitation services in Region Örebro County, starting in the habilitation teams for adults and since 2014 at Upplevelsen, the team for Sensory Based Treatments.

André has a particular interest in patients with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disability (PIMD) and has developed the Water dance method specifically for that group.

Workshop content
Water dance is a new customized stimulating activity for persons with PIMD. The method has been evaluated in a research project and the effects on outcomes such as stress, spasticity, and interaction have been studied. Positive results have been found and the current mission is to promote the method and implement it in other part of Sweden.

In this workshop you will have the opportunity to learn the basics of the Water Dance method by participating in a Water dance session in the pool.

Option 4: Sensory approaches for older people with dementia with Lesley Collier

Room: Karl Johan (30)

Workshop content
The workshop will involve exploring and experiencing different sensory environments to elicit different responses for people with dementia and other associated cognitive impairment. The session will conclude with a discussion regarding transfering the sensory approach from hospital to home.

Option 5: Snoezelen in Psychotherapy: The rhythm of life – Coping with loss and grief in children and adolescents with Svenja Fuhrmann and Nicole Ling

Room: Eldrummet (20)

Svenjas first contact with Snoezelen was in 1995 in a large child and adolescent psychiatry near the Dutch border. Since then, she has been more than convinced of the positive effect Snoezelen has on people who are emotionally impaired.

For 10 years she has run her own psychotherapy practice in Munich with focus on children and adolescents. Aside from that she is part of the ISNA-MSE Team Germany and a board member of the International ISNA-MSE.

After her training with Krista Mertens, Nicole was lucky enough to be employed at a facility for people with visual impairments in the Snoezelen area and to be able to accompany them for 18 years. In doing so, she built up her special education practice, in which Snoezelen is a method of supporting children and young people in their development. Nicole is also part of the ISNA-MSE Team Germany.

Workshop content
The loss of a loved one leads to deep changes in the lives of many children and young people. This can be a life-threatening diagnosis, an accident, a suicide, a death, or the progressive dementia of a close family member. The Snoezelen room offers these children a safe environment in which they can deal with all their emerging feelings, such as sadness, anger, despair, but also feelings of guilt. Experience methods of loss and grief support for children and young people in this interactive workshop. The content of this workshop is also suitable for working with older target groups.

Option 6: The development of the Snoezelen worldwide and the influence of Snoezelen on the entire care of people with disabilities with Ad Verheul

Room Röda sten (25)

Ad Verheul has been working at De Hartenberg, a centre for people with severe profound mental disabilities, since 1973. He started as a therapist and in 1974 he and his colleague Jan Hulsegge, a music therapist, defined the concept of Snoezelen. Since 1980 Ad Verheul has been the organiser and main spokesman of seminars on the subject of Snoezelen worldwide.

Workshop content
No one could have imagined in the mid-70s that an idea as simple as Snoezelen would grow into a global concept. Snoezelen is now used as a method within 48 countries around the world and with regard to scientific research, 28 universities around the world are active with various research in the field of Snoezelen. Snoezelen originated from the target group of people with severe multiple disabilities but has grown into an activity and treatment method within various target groups. Ad will talk about and show pictures from the development of the Snoezelen method in Holland during the 1980s.

2:45 Working with haptics – the sense of touch with Charlotte Magnusson

Charlotte is a researcher and lecturer at Lund university, Department of Design Sciences. She is interested both in interaction design, and in co-design methods – how to design together with the future users of a product, environment or service. She has worked with haptics and the sense of touch in many different projects, most recently the MISK project (interactive music) and ABILITY (tactile tablet, EU project).

Haptics, the sense of touch, is a complex sense. It involves tactile experiences, in combination with experiences from gestures and movements. It is also a sense that, in a world of screens and visual experiences, may be easily forgotten or at least taken for granted. Working explicitly with haptics can be challenging, but also very rewarding, since the sense of touch has great potential when it comes to creating experiences. In this talk, we will talk about the sense of touch, what it is and how one can use different types of artifacts or technologies to create different haptic experiences.

3:35 “Travelling your imagination – how to take a tour of your imagination in a snoezelen room/mse” with David Grupe

David is the President & co-founder & Trainer Snoezelen for IS-NA Switzerland (International Snoezelen Association). He has a BA in Rehabilitation, is a teacher for children and teenagers with special needs and a burnout-Coach.

This seminar will give you an insight on how to use a Snoezelen room/MSE as a perfect vehicle to travel your imagination. Stories accompanying a massage provide stimulation and relaxation at the same time. This presentation with some practical exercises will show you various possibilities; we will experience some of the positive effects together and you can learn how you can adapt them for your own clients.

In the second part the seminar we are going to take you on a journey into your imagination. We are going to experience our inner and outer bodies at the same time, experiencing how this feels and see how you can bring this great form of relaxation to others!

4.30 The seminar program for day one ends

7.00 Dinner

Saturday 26th of October

09.00 Opening day two

09.15 Keynote 3: Multisensory Environment / Snoezelen: A Rhythmic Unit with Paul Pagliano

Dr. Paul Pagliano is a member of the ISNA/MSE Board. His PhD was on the topic of parents living with a child with a disability. He then spent many years working as an academic, most recently at James Cook University in Australia and Singapore. He has pubished numerous research papers including three books on Snoezelen/MSE, supervised doctoral research in the area, and delivered more than 30 keynote papers at international conferences.

This presentation explores ways the Multisensory Environment (MSE)/Snoezelen is transformed into a cohesive rhythmic unit. We start with a group exercise where you, the audience, work together to create your own rhythmic unit. Then we consider how the participant, skilled helper and MSE can achieve greater harmony. This harmony becomes the catalyst for a kind of social synergy where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. In the process the participant, skilled helper and MSE come together to create exciting new individualized opportunities for enjoyment, leisure, therapy, and learning that would not otherwise be possible.

10.30 The total concept of snoezelen with Ilse Achterberg

Ilse Achterberg, has been an activity therapist and specialist in Snoezelen (Multi Sensory Activation) for almost 30 years. In 1986 she initiated and developed Snoezelen as a multi sensory approach for elderly people with dementia.

In 2004 Ilse initiated the global portal and website Worldwidesnoezelen.com. An information platform for free publication and sharing information about Snoezelen around the world. Ilse is a frequently invited speaker for training and lectures on Snoezelen for clients with dementia and autism in the Netherlands, Israël, England, Norway, Italy, Belgium, Germany and the USA.

This presentation is about the "how" of snoezelen. Snoezelen is more than relaxation, snoezelen has developed over more than 50 years.

The "how" of snoezelen is the most difficult part of the snoezelen. In this presentation Ilse will talk about how we can use the snoezelen for learning, or behavior problems. How can we integrate snoezelen in the 24 hour care, how can we reduce resistance by care workers and therapists against the snoezelen. The presentation will also go into how to use the equipment and which is the most important equipment in a snoezelen room?

11.20 MultiSensory Music Drama – A pedagogical approach to support development in people with severe/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities with Linn Johnels, Sara Rundqvist and Stefan Eklund.

Linn Johnels is a trained music educator and therapist with a long experience of working with people with severe/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities in different settings. Currently she is working at the Swedish National Center for Rett Syndrome and Related Disorders, Region Jämtland Härjedalen. She is also a PhD student in Special Education at the Department of Special Education at Stockholm University.

Sara Rundqvist and Stefan Eklund work as supervisors at Eldorado Resource Center in Gothenburg, a place for activity, knowledge and culture for people with severe to profound intellectual disabilities, as well as their relatives and staff.

In the presentation the findings from a PhD project, where MultiSensory Music Drama has been scientifically evaluated in two school-based studies together with students with severe/profound and multiple disabilities and their school staff members, are presented. Theoretical groundings and practical applications of the MSMD approach are presented. Stefan Eklund and Sara Rundqvist will talk about their practical work and experience of using MSMD at Eldorado Resource Center in Gothenburg and show some of their content in the drama “The essence of the forest”.

Lunchbreak

1.00 pm Parallel seminars.
Choose one of these options (at your registration). Available seats in parentheses.

Option 1: Multisensory Environment / Snoezelen: A Rhythmic Unit with Paul Pagliano

Main seminar room (no limit)

Workshop content
My enthusiasm for the conference theme ‘The rhythm of life: Motions and emotions through Snoezelen’ continues to be the impetus for part two of my paper. Here I will investigate how the Multisensory Environment (MSE)/Snoezelen can be extended beyond music into the practice and appreciation of all art forms. From the first moment I discovered Snoezelen I was enthralled by its enormous potential to provide social justice opportunities for people with disabilities. The MSE/Snoezelen is a magic space where people can experience the good things in life in ways that are ethically packaged to match their needs, wants and abilities.

Option 2:
Part 1: Snoezelen as a therapeutic intervention supporting the development of psychological resilience in children and adolescents, with special emphasis on two components: coping with stress and self-efficacy with Kinga Dziewiatkowska

Part 2: The implementation of the Snoezelen approach in Italian schools: a new perspective for inclusive and multimodal education part 1 with Giorgia Monetti and Davide Stecca

Room Karl-Johan (30)

Part 1:

Kinga is a child psychologist, psychotraumatologist, sociotherapist, social prevention specialist, preschool and early school educator, PhD student. She specializes in early development support, working also as a therapist based on solution-focused therapy, social skills trainer, educational therapist and a Snoezelen specialist. Kinga Dziewiatkowska is the author of scientific and popular science articles, focused also on the Snoezelen method. She cooperates with specialists from the United States and Italy.

Workshop content

The author's discussion focuses on presenting Snoezelen as a way of supporting the development of psychological resilience in children and adolescents. Kinga Dziewiatkowska presents the assumptions and results of a pilot study conducted as part of ongoing doctoral research in this field. The fundamental principles of the Snoezelen method are outlined, emphasizing its universal applicability to the current needs of children and adolescents, as well as the tasks associated with them in educational and therapeutic contexts.

Part 2:

Giorgia Monetti Psychologist, founder in 2010 of Focos and in 2017 of HrCare - Mondo Snoezelen and Vice -President of “Persona Al Centro” Association of Padua (Italy). Graduated in Psychology in 1994 (University of Padua). ISNA MSE Certified Teacher, facilitator’s teacher at Stirling University (Scotland). Master degree in Adult Education and Network Management at Padua’s University. She introduced ISNA MSE in Italy and created the first company and association that brought Certified Snoezelen training to Italy with Italian trainers. She has trained hundreds of Teachers in Italy and created the design of the Snoezelen rooms and Multisensory Environments in their schools. Co-author of “Snoezelen a Scuola” published by ScuolaOltre (2023).

Davide Stecca is a graduated musician in Organ and Organ Composition at the Vicenza “Pedrollo” Conservatory. He is partner of HrCare/Mondo Snoezelen and President of “Persona al Centro” Association and Vice-President of “Scuola Oltre” Association. Representative and teacher for Italy of the Gentle Teaching Institute. ISNA-MSE Certified Trainer of the Snoezelen approach. Davide is attending the Master's degree in Bibliotherapy at Verona University. Author of “Wonderful Imperfection. DaDaDum's dance" published by Federighi Editori. He is expert in musical educational workshops and RCVE - Rhythm Body Voice Emotions teacher’s trainer. Davide is a musician expert in laboratory teaching.

Workshop content

This presentation focuses on the implementation of the Snoezelen approach in the Italian school contexts, where "special" schools don’t exist, but all children attend the same school type. This allowed us to address Snoezelen in its potential to promote inclusive and multimodal education. Thanks to the special snoezelen environments created in schools, we have seen the development of an "opposite" inclusion, that is, to be included in the possibility of participating in activities and multisensory teaching subjects were the able-bodied children. The presentation will introduce a new perspective on Snoezelen in schools, meeting the needs of people regardless of age or ability, including those with disabilities, dyslexia or autism spectrum disorder, as well as neurotypical people, to promote well-being and facilitate learning effectively through positive emotions. The Snoezelen approach in schools aims to reduce anxiety, improve self-acceptance and promote openness to the acceptance of others. The content will be relevant to all levels of education and will draw on the speakers' experiences implementing Snoezelen projects and conducting training sessions in Italy, where they have made significant contributions in recent years.

Option 3: Snoezelen and humanitude with Maria José Cid

Room Eldrummet (20)

Maria José Cid, Dr. Psychology, President of Isna España and member of the Board of Isna International. Maria was Associated professor in Universitat Rovira I Virgili, until 2015 as well as Professor on Open University UNED for 15 years. She has been training Snoezelen international certification in Spain, Portugal, Costa Rica, etc, form mores than 20 years. Maria has also been the Director of residential Center for adult people with several mental disabilities for 20 years

Workshop content
Humanitude is based on the understanding that every person is a human being, and that the pillars in any relationship between professional and person must be based on the relational pillars (Word, Gaze and Touch) and on the identity pillar of Verticality. Humanitude is based on five fundamental principles in every intervention: Zero care by force, without forgetting any; respect for individuality and uniqueness; place of life, place of desire; opening up to the outside world and living and dying on your feet.

Option 4: BBAUM – Calming Treatment for Behaviorally Challenged People with Marlene Jul Houmann

Room Gläntan (20)

Option 5: Part 1: MISK – Music, Interactivity, Sensory stimulation, (K)Quality with John Säbom, Sara Rundqvist, Stefan Eklund

Part 2: An interaction of vitality - a guide for interaction strategies with Anders Malmqvist & Johanna Grudeborn

Room Väven (25)

Part 1
John Säbom works with Assistive Technology, Interaction Design and Music education.

Anders Malmqvist & Johanna Grudeborn are members of the staff at Eldorado Resurscenter, a resource centre in Gothenburg for people with PIMD.

Workshop content
This seminar presents MISK, a computer-based multisensory musical instrument that everyone can play based on their own abilities. You can use a variety of ways to control MISK: with your eyes, with your voice into a microphone, with different facial expressions into your computer's camera, with a trackpad or touch control. With the help of adaptable multisensory effects, such as light, vibrations and tactile stimuli, the user is inspired to creatively explore and actively create music.

Part 2
Anders Malmqvist & Johanna Grudeborn are members of the staff at Eldorado Resource Center in Gothenburg for people with PIMD.

Individuals with profound intellectual disabilities risk social isolation due to communicative difficulties. Research has stressed the link between high quality social interaction and quality of life in this population.

This speech is about a guide for interaction, developed by Eldorado Resource Center and the University of Gothenburg. The guide aims at fostering high quality social interactive behaviors in direct support staff and family members through self-reflection during different activities together with a person with PIMD.

Option 6: Hidden persuaders with Maurits Eijgendaal

Room Röda sten (25)

Maurits Eijgendaal has led several establishments for individuals with disabilities. He introduced Snoezelen to Scandinavia. The first facility in Sweden was at Lund University, closely followed by Eldorado. He constructed two Snoezelen houses and numerous rooms. He has consistently been interested in exploring the dynamics occurring when environmental effects are utilized while professionals interact with the individuals they support in a Snoezelen setting.

Workshop content
Our observations can influence us in ways we might not fully understand. The signals captured by our dominant senses—smell, sound, touch, taste, and vision—can affect us subconsciously and vary from person to person. In this workshop, we will delve into this topic and also provide an opportunity for discussions about personal experiences.

2.15 Harmony in Early Development: The Rhythmic Journey of Gentle Teaching in the Snoezelen Room with Anthony M. McCrovitz

Dr. Anthony M. McCrovitz is the Executive Director of Quality of Life Institute, Inc., a non-profit providing collaborative learning opportunities and resources for those supporting individuals with diverse needs. As a licensed mental health counselor and psychologist, his clinical expertise focuses on child development and holistic, bio-psychosocial models. A dedicated educator and consultant globally, he contributes to organizations such as Gentle Teaching International and the International Snoezelen-MSE Association. Dr. McCrovitz holds a Ph.D. in I/O Psychology, respecialization in Clinical Psychology, MBA, and a master’s in pastoral counseling.

Embark on a rhythmic journey exploring the connection between Gentle Teaching principles and the Snoezelen Room. The presentation focuses on nurturing premature infants' social-emotional foundation through the harmonious interplay of motions and emotions in this unique environment. Dive into the theoretical foundations and witness the seamless integration of Gentle Teaching in the Snoezelen Room, creating an emotional haven for infants and parents. The heart of the presentation demonstrates practical Gentle Teaching techniques within the sensory-rich space, transforming the experience for both.

3.05 Music and the Heart with Rickard Åström

Musician and composer Rickard Åström, twice Grammy Awarded, has toured the world as well as served as Musical Director at the Gothenburg Opera. Educated at the Music Conservatory in Gothenburg, he is involved in research at the University Hospital of Sahlgrenska, exploring our emotional and physiological reactions to music. Their study of heart rate synchronization in choir singers got international attention and was featured in BBC, and Times Magazine.

Rickard has lectured at Universities in the US and Australia, Royal College of Music, London, Karolinska Institutet, Choir and Music festivals and Ted talks.

We know music can move our hearts and minds. How can we measure the effects scientifically? What happens when we sing or make music together? Can music heal broken hearts?

Rickard will share insights from research and his experience and illustrate with live music.

4.00 The conference concludes