1. Multi-sensory Storytelling Working & learning together for involvement
PAMIS
Multi-sensory Storytelling
Working & learning together for involvement
29th October
Acorn Centre, Inverurie
Jenny Whinnett
PAMIS Grampian Co-ordinator

2. Communication
Most people with PMLD have no speech communication is usually non-verbal
A minority will use a few single words
Some are able to use a few signs and/or symbols - eg Makaton, Boardmaker or SignAlong

3. Why Storytelling? Worldwide tradition of storytelling
Storytelling is an age-old tradition that has existed since the dawn of time and in every culture. It is many things to many people. It is entertainment, a way of passing on a culture’s history, or a way of teaching to both the young and old. Storytelling is an art.
Lambe 2002

4. Storytelling: an age old tradition
An Séanachai

5. The Importance of Storytelling
“One must have a story, it’s one of the things humans do. Not just have a story, but tell a story”
Chinua Achebe 2000
“Storytelling is a vital ingredient of human experiences”
Keith Park 1999
“….for most of human history ‘literature’, both fiction and poetry has been narrated, not written, heard, not read”
Angela Carter 1991

6. Multi-sensory Storytelling Principles – The Book
The Pages
7 or less
Colour is neutral
Reading card is laminated (matte)

7. Multi-sensory Storytelling Principles – The Book
The Sentences
On reading card
One or two per page
Short and rounded
No word overload

8. Multi-sensory Storytelling Principles – The Book
The Stimuli
One per page
Speech (word sounds relate to the concrete object/material)
Age appropriate

9. Multi-sensory Storytelling Principles – The Book
The Book Cover
The Box is the cover
Tactile symbol & title (1 or 2 words)
Recognition & choice-making

10. Principles – The Storyteller
Uses voice expressively
intonation, inflection, tone pitch, volume
speaks slowly and use pauses
implies atmosphere
allows time for acoustic processing
Stick to the storyline
no deviation/ad lib
but, encourages, prompts the person to interact with the stimulus
Objects are always presented in the same way
Presents objects within person’s personal field of vision, hearing & reach
Reading is an active process

11. Example of a Multi-sensory Story
page & stimuli
complete story
The box – the book cover & tactile title

12. PAMIS Real Lives: Real Stories
Tactile symbol, (sign) and word(s)
Accompanied by a photo storybook
Built-in agreed learning targets
Progress evaluated
Personalised
Designed and developed by parents, carers & staff
Based on real experiences

13. Susan Seaside Story

15. Evaluation
Parents
“The story was an activity to share with the family”
“It was tailor made for my daughter’s enjoyment
and interest”
“My son has an entertaining and educational story that gives him pleasure, and informs him too”
“Her responses are much better than I had expected, it is difficult for me to get things she responses to, but with her story she responds to the stimuli most times”

16. “She has shown lovely positive reactions to the final pages”
Evaluation
Teachers
“She has shown lovely positive reactions to the final pages”
“She never tires of hearing it and always responds positively to it - head up and eye contact!”
“They have been great for encouraging all kinds of awareness not only sensory but also social and have become a really valuable tool in the class”

17. Exploring Literacy… Through multi-sensory stories
Focus for setting specific learning targets & new skills
Interaction
Enjoyment
Attention
Listening
Recognition
Comprehension
Learning
Anticipation
Sequencing
GOOD FUN
Collaboration
Library of personal sensory storybooks
Support and information sharing within the development group
Teaching and training materials

18. Parents’ comments on the need for accessible material
“… she appears terrified and I don’t know where to start, I cannot find any materials that are appropriate or suitable for her developmental level”
Mother of 9 yr old girl, who had just begun menstruating
“…he constantly tries to open doors in the house looking for him (his dad) he seems puzzled and depressed. I don’t know what to do, how to explain that Chris is not coming back”
Parent whose partner had died very suddenly

19. Contact Details Mrs J Whinnett Grampian Co-ordinator
Unit 5 Badentoy Business Centre
Badentoy Crescent
Portlethen
Aberdeenshire
AB12 4YD
Tel: 0044 (0)