The word ‘sensory’ has come to be thrown in the mix in recent years almost as if just saying it makes something vaguely good happen. But, what on earth is a ‘sensory audit’?
The idea of a sensory audit comes from an informed understanding of actual experiences, built on the auditor’s own personal experience, or guided by a mentor with lived experience. It is about asking fundamental questions about how an environment is designed and used, and how that shapes the sense-scape of the individuals that occupy it, study, teach, work, play and live in it. What we’re looking for is not just problems, we’re looking for opportunities to make already existing spaces work better for everyone.
The first big step is getting those responsible for those spaces on board, and having done so, assisting them through guidance and tools to engage with the people using those environments to come to an understanding of a simple but essential question:
What does it feel like to be here?
A great tool for this is a simple questionnaire table broken into columns that steps people through a series of questions they may never have thought to even ask, encourage them to check in with users of their spaces, and define simple actions they can take to meet unmet sensory needs – allowing us ask a second key question:
What can I do about this?
More than anything, this is about empowering you to be part of building a better future.
You can find out a lot more about this approach at our conference from acclaimed author and trainer, Pete Wharmby here
