Article: 2005 OPTIMA Award entry: an adventure into Snoezelen therapy; Using the Snoezelen philosophy--and setting--to transform severely disabled residents' lives.

Snoezelen is a combination of two Dutch verbs: snuffelen (to seek out, sniff, or explore) and doezelen (to relax). Its concept was defined in the late 1970s by two Dutch therapists. While working at an institute in Holland, the two therapists learned of the positive responses a colleague elicited from a severely challenged client while exposed to a sensory environment he had assembled. More than 25 years ago the Snoezelen concept was considered radical compared with traditional therapies. Today, after discovering Snoezelen's benefits, we can't imagine life without it.

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Snoezelen is a wonderful environment, filled with sights, ...

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