Material | The Sensory Fan-Model

Description

The Sensory Fan-Model is intended as a tool to explain to someone which systems are active in their body, and how they can influence the systems by using activating and calming strategies.

The Three Systems of the Sensory Fan

The Sensory Fan-model shows three systems:
• The engage & recovery system is shown in the blue-green part of the fan.
• The orange section shows the stress system.
• In the red section you see the emergency system.

Someone who isn't sufficiently responsive needs more activating stimuli, which causes the blue part to collapse and the green part to unfold more. An overstimulated person needs calming sensations, which causes the orange part to collapse while simultaneously expanding the green part. While some people experience this unfolding slowly, others experience it more quickly. The "unfolding" capacity varies from person to person. Some people have many "folds" and others have fewer.

In Chapter 2 of Wiggling and Fiddling for People with Intellectual Disabilities and in Chapter 1 of Wiggling and Fiddling at Home (from the 4th revised edition) you will find more information about the three systems.

It's good to function primarily in the green zone. This doesn't mean you're never in the blue or orange zone. Rest and recovery occur in the blue zone. And sometimes you experience stress, which puts you in the orange part of the spectrum. This doesn't have to be negative. Stress can be a useful part of life, as long as it's not chronic and limiting.
The people you use the Stimulus Fan for can also learn to indicate how they're doing: which color they think is most active, which system is active, and whether they might be experiencing too little or too much stimulation.

• Do they feel comfortable and can they do what they want or need to do, or not?
• Is the blue part primarily unfolded? Then they're not receiving enough input and are understimulated. Then you explain the result of activating strategies: the blue part collapses more, the green part unfolds further.
• Do you see quite a bit of green, but too much orange unfolded? Then they often become overstimulated. You explain that by using calming strategies at certain times, they can better unfold the green part, leaving less orange open.

After practicing with the Stimulus Fan several times, they may be able to indicate how they are doing – perhaps even without using the fan after a while – and also learn to apply strategies independently.

Is it difficult to explain it with just words and a two-dimensional picture? Then fold a fan from colored paper and tape it to a surface. Now you can make the three-dimensional fan move. See below for downloads on how to make your own fan.

Your Sensory Fan (With Your Own Content)

Download your own Sensory Fan-model below.

Everyone uses their own words, gestures, or sounds to express how they feel. This is also true when using the fan.

To connect well with others, it's helpful to use terms that best describe their state of sensory stimulation: under- or overstimulation, "shutdown," and certainly also terms that indicate well-being. Therefore, an initial draft has been created with terms more commonly used with people with intellectual disabilities.

But within the care landscape for people with trauma, ADHD, autism, acquired brain injury, mental health issues, or even giftedness, very different terms are used. Which terms apply to you and/or your client? SensoMatters invites you to write them in your own fan.

Make Your Own Sensory Fan

• Paint an existing fan.
• Make a fan with colored paper (download below).
• Make a fan with a color print (download below).