TY - JOUR
T1 - Tactile and Sensory Textiles for Children and Babies with Visual or Multi Sensory Impairment
AU - Selina Moore, Michael Broadhurst & John Williams 
JO - Journal of Fiber Bioengineering and Informatics
VL - 2
SP - 73
EP - 83
PY - 2009
DA - 2009/02
SN - 2
DO - http://doi.org/10.3993/jfbi09200902
UR - https://global-sci.org/intro/article_detail/jfbi/4988.html
KW - Textiles
KW - sensory impairment
KW - colour therapy
AB - There are a growing number of children and babies diagnosed with multi sensory disability and 
visual impairment. Developing and stimulating these children is often done in Multi Sensory rooms 
in schools and hospitals where the child can experience visual, tactile, olfactory, auditory, motor, 
cognitive and communicatory toys and products. Many of these aids use plastic coatings for ease 
of cleaning between multiple users but have limited textures, however the work reported here 
investigates the role of textiles as a learning aid, exploring different surfaces and effects to 
enhance the tactile sensations of an object and concluding in a ball being designed and developed 
almost entirely from textiles. The techniques and technology included in the product are; UV 
florescent dyestuffs, ‘Shibori’ technique, colour changing fibre optics, retro reflective materials 
and microencapsulated aroma and anti-bacterial technology. A limited case study has been 
undertaken and demonstrates the success of the product. The use of texture, light and aroma 
together with movement gives a lot of stimulation to a child. Teachers involved with the project 
gave positive feedback on how the child responded.