Sensory Environment Self-Evaluation Tool
Introduction
Each context and activity has inherent sensory features, which can affect your participation in your student role. This tool is designed to enable you to evaluate your experience of your sensory environments and how they either support or create challenges for participating in the activities of your everyday student life.
None of these judgments are calibrated; this worksheet structures your experience of an environment by focusing your attention on key sensory features of the context. It simply provides a place to start in understanding the relationship between you, the student and your context from a sensory point of view. There are two ratings: 1. The environmental features (with a minus and plus sign) 2. The impact on your participation (with two emojis, left and right)
Start
Personal Details
Personal Details
Name:
Date of evaluation
Time of evaluation
What institution are you studying in?
Technological University Dublin
Trinity College Dublin
Other (Please type):
Other (Please type):
Setting for evaluation
Lecture hall
Laboratory
Library
Social setting
Outdoor Area
Office
Student accomodation
Other (Please type):
Other (Please type):
In this environment, what sort of activities you usually participate in?
Class (lecture/tutorial/seminar)
Practical Classes (labs/studios/workshops)
Study/Writing assignments/Self-Directed Learning
Group work
Socialising
Fun / Leisure activities
Eating
Self-care activities
Physical activities
Support services
Other (Please type):
Other (Please type):
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Auditory
Auditory
Rate the environmental qualities of the setting you are in and the impact it has on your participation
General ambient background noise (fan, chat, movement noises)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Specific noises (voices, a machine)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Intermittent noise (unpredictable)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Cueing noises (calling a person’s name, bell)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
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Visual
Visual
Rate the environmental qualities of the setting you are in and the impact it has on your participation
General background (walls, workspaces) have objects on them
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Contrast in the visual environment (dark objects on light surfaces, light objects on dark surfaces)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Unexpected visual events
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Moving visual environment (for example, other people are moving about or there is movement on screens or displays)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
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Touch
Touch
Rate the environmental qualities of the setting you are in and the impact it has on your participation
Consistent contact with others/objects (e.g., tight sitting area, firm clothing)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Intermittent opportunities for contact (bumping into people/things)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Other touch events (e.g., breeze, fan blowing)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
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Next
Movement Sense
Movement Sense
Rate the environmental qualities of the setting you are in and the impact it has on your participation
Predictable/routine movements needed/expected (e.g., getting in line)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Unpredictable movements needed/expected (losing balance)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Movement requirements are linear (walking, scooting, rolling in a chair)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Movement requirements are angular (bending, twisting)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Previous
Next
Body Position Sense
Body Position Sense
Rate the environmental qualities of the setting you are in and the impact it has on your participation
Predictable/routine body positions needed
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Constant challenges to postural control (unstable surfaces for sitting, walking)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Opportunities for body feedback occur (holding door, pushing a cart, wiping table or board)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Previous
Next
Smell
Rate the environmental qualities of the setting you are in and the impact it has on your participation
Distinct smell in the context (air freshener, grass, sweaty bodies)
How much of this feature is present?
Move the slider below
-
+
Impact of feature on my participation
Move the slider below
😖
😊
Previous
Next
Tool completed!
This tool has been adapted from the Ecological Assessment of Sensory Processing Features of the Context with permission from its developer, Prof Winnie Dunn, PhD, OTR, FAOTA. The Ecological Assessment of Sensory Processing Features of the Context is a part of The Sensory Profile 2 Family of Assessments. Copyright © 2014 NCS Pearson, Inc. All rights reserved. The tool has been developed as a collaboration between Technological University Dublin and Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, by the development team of Kieran Lewis, Dr Clodagh Nolan, Aoife Dempsey, Claudia M. Fernandez Rivera, Deirdre Staunton and Declan Treanor. Funding for the development of this tool has been provided by Higher Education Authority through the Fund for Students with Disabilities.
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