SimpleStuffWorksareproudtoworkwithTheSensoryStoryProjectPleaseshareandenjoythesestorieswitheveryoneyouthinkwouldlikethem

Image by Kris Krug used under licensing. Full references given within.

Beauty Sleeps A Sleepy Sensory Story by Jo Grace, on behalf of Simple Stuff Works

SimpleStuffWorksareproudtoworkwithTheSensoryStoryProjectPleaseshareandenjoythesestorieswitheveryoneyouthinkwouldlikethem

A sleepy sensory

brought to you by:

http://jo.element42.orgnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

ContentsIntroductiontoSensoryStoriesandSimpleStuffWorks. Page3IntroducingBeautySleeps. Page4Resourcingthestory. Page6FacilitatingthesensorystimuliforBeautySleeps. Page7BeautySleeps:Sensorystory. Page10

Coverimageusedunder manythankstoKrisKrugformakingthisimageavailableat:http://www.flickr.com/photos/kk/3834592792/

2

www.simplestuffworks.co.uk

SimpleStuffWorksareproudtoworkwithTheSensoryStoryProjectPleaseshareandenjoythesestorieswitheveryoneyouthinkwouldlikethem

Sensorystories

Sensorystoriesconveyanarrativeusingamixtureofwordsandsensoryexperiences.

Sensorystimulationsupportscognitivedevelopment,learning,memoryandcommunication.

Narrativesareanenrichingpartoflife,weallenjoystories,andwithinthestorytellingspacewefindourselvesbetterabletounderstandconceptsandtrynewthings.

Sensorystoriescanbeusedtosupportindividualswitharangeofneedsanddisabilities,theyareparticularlybeneficialtoindividualswithprofoundandmultiplelearningdisabilities.

YoucandownloadafreeguidecalledSharingasensorystoryfrom:

http://jo.element42.org/sensory-stories

Thebestthingaboutsensorystoriesistheyarefun.

Posturalcare

Goodposturalcarehelpstopreventpeoplewhofindithardtomovefromdevelopingdamagingbodyshapedistortions.Withtherightinformationandbyusingtherightequipmentandpositioningtechniquesyoucanprotectandrestoreaperson’sbodyshape.Bodydistortiondoesnothavetobeaninevitableconsequenceofdisability.

Nighttimepositioningisespeciallyimportantaswespendsomuchtimeinbedoverthecourseofourlives.Gettingusedtoanewnighttimepositioncantaketime,practiceandpatience.Supportingsomeonetolearntoliecomfortablyontheirbackcanbechallengingbuttherearerecognisedbenefitswhichwillmakeyoureffortsallworthwhile.

Pleaseremembertouseacomprehensivesafetychecklist,ifyouhaveconcernsfortheperson’ssafetywhiletheylieontheirbackensurethatthereissomeonewiththematalltimes.Thisstoryhasbeenwrittentoformpartofabedtimeroutinehoweveritcaneasilybeusedduringthedaytohelpthepersonpracticeanewpositionbeforethisisintroducedatnight.

SimpleStuffWorksareanawardwinningequipmentandtrainingprovider.Youcanfindoutmoreaboutthematwww.simplestuffworks.co.uk

3

SimpleStuffWorksareproudtoworkwithTheSensoryStoryProjectPleaseshareandenjoythesestorieswitheveryoneyouthinkwouldlikethem

“Togetherwearebetter”

We(SarahClaytonfromSimpleStuffWorksandJoannaGracefromTheSensoryStoryProject)haveteameduptobringyouasensorystorydesignedtosupportthedeliveryofgoodposturalcare.Wehopeyouwillbenefitfrom,andenjoy,sharingit.Everythingyouneedtoknowtotellthestoryisinthisbooklet,combinethiswithyourknowledge,theadviceyouhavefromyourtherapistandyouwillbereadytogo.

IntroducingBeautySleeps

WeallknowthestoryofSleepingBeauty,andifyouwanttheBeautyinthisstorytobeSleepingBeautythenshecanbethatforyou;butthisstorydoesnothavetobereadasSleepingBeauty.Weallalsoknowabouttheneedtogetourbeautysleep.Multiplebeautysleepswillsurelymakeusallthemorebeautiful,sothisstorycouldbepartofabedtimeroutineaimedatwakingupalittlemorebeautifuleachday.TheBeautyinthestoryisclearlylovedbytheworldaroundher,asplantsandanimalsworktogethertomakehercomfortable.HerewecantakethewordBeautytomeanmorethanthethinsurfacethatcoversus,thisBeautyisoneofspirit,shemustbebeautifulinsideforeveryonetocareabouthersomuch.

AsyoutellthestorytoyourSleepingBeauty,youwillbeplayingtheroleoftheenchantedworldaroundherasyoumovethroughyourposturalcareroutine.AsBeautyliesintheflowersyourstoryexperiencerwilllieontheirback,nexttheirlegsupportsareputinplace.AsthevinesgrowaroundBeautyyouwillbemovingsidesupportsinplace.Toeswillneedtobepointingtowardstheceilingtoallowforthebirdstoalightonthem.Yourtouchonthetoescanbethetinyclawsofthebirdsastheyflydowntorest.Thisisastorydesignedtobesoothingandtoleadanindividualintosleep,itisnotarushedprocessofgettingeverythingintoplaceasquicklyaspossiblesotakethegentlebreathingopportunitiestoimbuecalmintothesituation.Asdaylightfadestonightyouwillbemakinganyheadadjustmentsthatareneededsothatyourstoryexperiencercanwatchasthelightabovefades(ifyouhaveadimmerswitchinthebedroomyouaregoingtobegreatatthispart!)Thebirds(youagain)layacoverovertheSleepingBeautyandagainyoushareingentlebreathingasyoucheckbodyalignmentinthebedandleavethegentlesmellofflowersintheroom.

SimpleStuffWorksareproudtoworkwithTheSensoryStoryProjectPleaseshareandenjoythesestorieswitheveryoneyouthinkwouldlikethem

Thisstoryistobeusedinconjunctionwiththeposturaladviceyouhavereceivedfromyourtherapist.Thestorypageshavepromptsinitalicsindicatingthesensorystimulitobeusedwitheachsectionofthestory.Makeyourownnotestoremindyouofkeypointsforposturalcare.

Itiswellworthrememberingtherecognisedadvantagesofsupportingpeopletolearntolieontheirbackandrememberthereisnorush.Theadvantagespublishedinanarticlecalled‘TheBiomechanicsofBodyShapeDistortion’include:theperson’sheadcanbesupportedcentrally;theirshouldergirdlecanliesymmetricallyinalevel,neutralposition;theirarmsandhandscanbegentlysupportedinafunctionalposition;theweightoftheirspineislowermostandonthesupportingsurface,thesoftermoredelicatepartoftheirchestisuppermostandcanbeprotected;theirpelviscanbegentlyboughtintoalevelposition;thegapandtheirwaist,betweenpelvisandlowerribs,canbeboughtintoapositiontoliesymmetrically;theirhipscanbesupportedandprotectedinsecureabduction,withthelegsslightlyapart;gravitycanbeusedtogentlyhelpthekneestostraighten;andfinallytheirfeetcanbesupportedinasecureneutralposition.ForacopyofthearticlepleasecontactSarahTraining@simplestuffworks.co.uk

Atfirstyoumayfeellikeyouaretryingtorememberahundredthingsatoncebutitwillquicklybecomeroutine,hopefullyanenjoyablesoothingroutine.Therearesomanybenefitstobegainedhere:goodposturalcare,arelaxingbedtimestory,thebenefitsofsensorystimulationandmore,sofearnot–itwillbeworthyoureffort.TolearnmoreabouttheparticularbenefitstobegainedfromsensorystoriesdodownloadthefreeguideSharingasensorystoryfrom:http://jo.element42.org/sensory-stories

4

5

SimpleStuffWorksareproudtoworkwithTheSensoryStoryProjectPleaseshareandenjoythesestorieswitheveryoneyouthinkwouldlikethem

Resourcingthestory

Totellthisstoryyouwillneedtogatherafewsimplesensoryresources.Ifyoucanfindamarvellousboxtokeeptheseresourcesinthatwillhelptomakethestorymorecaptivatingforthepersonwithwhomyouaresharingthestory.

Beawareofanysensorypreferences,needsorallergiesthepersonyouwillbesharingthestorywithmayhaveandfeelfreetosubstitutemoresuitableresourcesasrequired.

Resourceshoppinglist:Essentialoils.Youwillneedtwodifferentessentialoils,manyshopssellessentialoils,typicallytheycostaround80penceperbottleandabottlewilllastyouaverylongtime.Ifyoucan’tfindessentialoilsthenyoucanconsiderroomfragrancesorperfume.Youareaimingtohaveonewoodlandsmell,IrecommendSandalwoodasitisaverygentlesoothingscent,andonefloralsmell,choosefrom:Camomile,Jasmine,Lavender,RoseorVanillaasallofthesescentsaresaidtohavesoporificproperties.IfyouarenotkeenonfloralscentstryBergamotinstead(alsosaidtobesoporificinsmalldoses)whichhasacitrussmell.Velvetyfabric.Thiscanbeacushion,acoveringonyourstoryexperiencer’slegsupports,orsimplyaswatchoffabrictobetouched.FurfabricorMinkyfabricwouldbesuitablealternatives.

Additionally:Birdsong.Youhavemanyoptionshere:whistleorsingalullabyyourself,chooseasuitablepieceofmusic,orfindaclipofbirdsongonYoutube(orsimilarsite,trySoundcloudforsnippetsofsongs).

Optional:Acottonpadandasmallplasticcontainer:ifyoudropacoupleofdropsofessentialoilontoacottonpadandkeepitsealedinaplasticcontainertheairinsidethecontainerwillbecomefragrancedandtakingthelidoffwillbeaneffectivewayofdeliveringthescent.Itwillalsomeanyoucanreusethesmellonmanyoccasions,toppingitupwithanextradripasrequired.Adimmerswitch:Havingadimmerswitchforthebedroomlightwouldbeawonderfuladditiontothisstory,butisnotnecessary.

Onceyouhavecollectedyourresourceskeepthemtogetherandtrytousethesamestimuluseachtimeyoutellthestory.Thiswillhelpittobecomepredictableandincreasefeelingsofsecurityandcomfort.EncourageyourstoryexperiencertocreateauniqueexperienceeachtimethestoryistoldbyimaginingwhatdreamsaredreamtbyBeautyasshesleeps.

6

SimpleStuffWorksareproudtoworkwithTheSensoryStoryProjectPleaseshareandenjoythesestorieswitheveryoneyouthinkwouldlikethem

FacilitatingthesensorystimuliforBeautySleeps

Geteverythingreadybeforeyoustart.Setoutthesensoryresourcesandtheposturalsupportresourcesyouwillneedsomewherewhereyouwillbeabletoreachthemeasilyasyousharethestory.Propupthestorypagessomewherewhereyoucanseethemasyoumoveabout.

Beautysleepslyingbackamongsttheflowers.Lieyourstoryexperiencerontheirbackinbedfollowingtheadviceyouhavereceivedfromyourtherapist.Waftthescentofflowersaroundthemandallowthemtimetoenjoythefragrance.Ifyouhavethefragranceonacottonpadinaplasticcontainerthensimplyremovethelidofthecontainerandmoveitaroundthebodyofthestoryexperiencer.Alternativelyyoucouldaddacoupleofdropsoffragrancetoapieceoffabricwithflowersonandwaftthisoveryourstoryexperiencer.Realflowersarealsoanoption,butitcanbetrickytoensureyouhavethesamefreshflowersforeachtellingofthestory.

Herlegsrestonvelvetcushions.Adjustthelegpositionofyourstoryexperiencerfollowingyourtherapist’sadvice.Ifthesupportyouareusingissofttotouchthenthisalonecanbethesensoryexperiencetoaccompanythissectionofthestory.(Touchexperiencescanbehadwiththeknees,itdoesnotalwayshavetobefingertips).Ifyoursupportisnotparticularlysoftthenyoucanallowyourstoryexperiencertotouchaswatchofvelvetyfabricasyouadjusttheirlegs.Rememberthisstoryispartofagoingtosleeproutinesotrytokeepyourmovementsfluidandunhurried.

Vinesgrowaroundher,embracinghertorsoinawoodlandhug.Yourarmswillbethevinesembracingthestoryexperiencerasyoumoveanysidesupportstheyneedintoplace.Thefloralscentfromthebeginningofthestoryisalsothescentthatyouwanttolastintheroomoncethestoryhasbeentold.Thiswoodlandscentcanbestrongerasitisdeliveredbutisalsogoingtobeabrieferexperiencethanthefloralscent.Youcandeliveritinthesamemannerasthefloralscentusingafewdropsofessentialoilonacottonpadinaplasticcontainer,oryoucouldbealittlemorecreativeandscentsomethingthatyouthenwearonyourhandorwristasyouseetoyourstoryexperiencer’storsosupport.Thiscouldbeaglove,orsimplyahairscrunchiewornaroundyourwrist.Makesureitissomethingyoucantakeoffasyouonlywantthisscentpresentduringthisphraseofthestory.Theitemcouldbekeptinaplasticcontaineraswiththescentoncottonpadstoconcentratethefragrance.

Birdsalightuponhertoestosingherlullabies.Yourhandsarethebirdsandasyoualightuponthetoesofyourstoryexperienceryouwillbeensuringthattheirtoesarepointinginthedirectionadvisedbyyourtherapist.Touchofanykindisverysoothingsoyoucankeepyourhandsrestingonyourstoryexperiencer’sfeetasyousing/whistlealullabyorplaythesongormusicclipofyourchoosing.Ifyourchoiceofmusicisquitelongyoucancontinuethestorywhilstitplaysinthebackground.

7

SimpleStuffWorksareproudtoworkwithTheSensoryStoryProjectPleaseshareandenjoythesestorieswitheveryoneyouthinkwouldlikethem

Shebreathesasgentlyasthesealappingthebeachonasummer’sday.Thestoryiscomingtoaclose;youwantyourstoryexperiencertobeasrelaxedaspossible.Slowcontrolledbreathinghelpspeopletorelax.Modelthiskindofbreathingtoyourstoryexperiencerbyinhalingdeeplyandthenexhalingslowly.Toenhancethisexperienceinhalethroughyournoseandexhalemakinga‘shhh’sound.Encourageyourstoryexperiencertomimicyourbreathingpattern.Ifyourstoryexperiencerneedsheadsupportaspartoftheirposturalcare,orneedstohavetheirheadmoved,thisisthepointinthestorywhenyoucanmakethosemovements.Withtheunderstandingofyourstoryexperienceryoucouldmoveyourfacesothatyoucouldfeeltheirbreathuponyourcheek.Thepositioningofyourfacewillthensendacueastowheretheirfaceshouldbepointing.

Thedaylightfadestonight.Adimmerswitchwouldbeawonderfulthingtohavetofacilitatethispartofthestory.Youraimforthissensorystimulusissimplytoturnoffthelightintheroom.Thetransitionfromdarknesstolightthathappensduringthissectionofthestoryisinpartacuetoyourstoryexperiencerastowheretheyshouldbefacingi.e.withtheirheadinthecorrectpositiontheywillbeabletoseethelightasitfades,andinpartasingletothemtoclosetheireyesandgetreadyforsleep.Asyoumovetoadjustthelightingintheroomyouwillbecheckingthealignmentofyourstoryexperiencer’sbodyasyouhavebeenadvisedtodobyyourtherapist.

Thebirdsdrawacoverletofmossoverher.Onceagainyouplaythepartofthebirdsasyoudrawyourstoryexperiencer’sblanketgentlyovertheirbody.

Beauty’sminddancesinthelandofdreams.Thereisnostimulusassociatedwiththisline,butstilltakeyourtimeasyoudeliverit.ItisaninvitationforyourstoryexperiencertobegintoimaginethedreamsoftheBeautyinthestory.

Shebreathesasgentlyasthesealappingthebeachonasummer’sday,Youhavealreadymodelledcalmbreathingtoyourstoryexperiencer.Returntoitagainandbreathwithyourstoryexperiencertogeneratearelaxedsleepystateinthem.

andtheflowersgrowaboutheruntilthedawn.Thereisasmallamountofresearchthatshowsthatfaintfloralscentsofthekindsrecommendedinthe‘Resourcingthestimuli’sectionofthisbookletpromotepeacefulpleasantsleepandcanhaveasoothingsoporificeffectinabedroom.Youcanwaftthefloralscentoveryourstoryexperiencerandthenleavethescenteditemintheroomsothatitgivesoffaverygentlefloralscentthroughthenight.ThiscontinuationofthesensoryexperienceisalsointendedtosupportyourstoryexperiencerincontinuingtoimaginethemselvesinthedreamsofthesleepingBeauty.

8

SimpleStuffWorksareproudtoworkwithTheSensoryStoryProjectPleaseshareandenjoythesestorieswitheveryoneyouthinkwouldlikethem

Beauty s leeps.

Beauty sleeps lying back amongst the flowers.

Floral scent

Her legs rest on velvet cushions.

Velvet fabric

Vines grow around her, embracing her torso in a woodland hug.

Woodland scent

Birds alight upon her toes to sing her lullabies.

Birdsong/lullaby

She breathes as gently as the sea lapping the beach on a summer’s day. Breath

9

SimpleStuffWorksareproudtoworkwithTheSensoryStoryProjectPleaseshareandenjoythesestorieswitheveryoneyouthinkwouldlikethem

The daylight fades to night.

Bedroom lights

The birds draw a coverlet of moss over her.

Blanket

Her mind dances in the land of dreams.

-

She breathes as gently as the sea lapping the beach on a summer’s day,

Breath

and the flowers grow about her until the dawn.

Floral scent

10