Safety in the studio

Keeping a safe environment

Making our spaces safe for clients is so very important.

Safety when working with Neuro-Spicy folk can be very difficult, particularly if we are also playing with PDA and ADHD and regulation through sensory input.

We can very easily have a space that is overstimulating, and mainly because we are trying to fill our space with as many options as possible,(because we care) we want to provide as many options as we can.

What Can We Do ??

In this second image we can see a child unsupervised, surrounded by wooden sharp objects and possibly small objects that could be placed in their mouth. Not really a safe environment, many parents are buying sensory hammocks through the NDIS to place in children's rooms, or Education settings placing them in Calming Spaces. This is such a thoughtful gesture, however these beautiful colourful calming silks can be lethal if used incorrectly and used unsupervised.

WE NEED to make sure our folk are safe at all times.

How can we do this ?

• Referring to the first picture, use a crash mat crashmat.com.au or thicker mat under the hammock neptuneblanket.com.au are great.

• Placing all props and sensory toys on a shelf, using baskets and boxes to sort and hide any particularly high priority props and produce as needed.

• Facing the client away from the distraction of seeing all these yummy colourful toys of distraction can also help.

• Keep hard objects a distance from the hammock area, I like to visualise a safe circle around the hammock.

• Always make sure when working with Sensory Seekers that they DO NOT have anything in their mouths before entering your space, removing any chewy necklace pieces and maybe think about placing them in your break space next to water bottle.

• If your client has a Sensory Seeking need for Chewing and mouthing objects, be very vigilant with keeping small objects at bay, no toys or flashing lights with little batteries or sensory items with small beads etc..

• Sharp objects and heavy objects...... We may have scissors for crafting, or weights that we use with other clients, be mindful and if there is a small possibility that one of your clients has a tendency to self harm or harm others, make sure these types of things are safely stored.

• Talking through your safety routine with parents and carers.... If parents are considering having a hammock at home, take them through a safety routine, look at the risks around individuals and maybe put a risk management plan into place.

• When the hammock is not in use, take it up and put it in a bag or tie it out of the way. Anything that hangs, hammock, rope, even clothing can be of risk to a small child or a child with a disability. Never presume they are safe. You can go to Work Safe websites in each state to find simple templates to create your own risk management plan.

• In recent years there has been some unfortunate instances of young children with disabilities left with severe injury and one death related to the unsupervised use of aerial hammocks (sensory swings). These incidences have been brought to the attention of NDIS Australia, meaning as instructors/teachers we need to make sure all our ducks are in a very shiny line.

• Documentation also needs to be detailed and consistent, talk with other professionals working with clients, and if possible ask them how they keep their spaces safe. We all need to be on the same page. And remember parents are often our best teachers.

• As I have experienced with many clients in early teens, they like to have some quiet time to themselves in the hammock (listening to AC/DC....)

  Lights off often and maybe a sensory light on the ceiling and some favourite fidget or drawing. This is so great, however its not a time for you to sit in the office on your phone.... they still need your supervision. Always be in viewing distance.