Snoezelen and Down syndrome: Physical therapy intervention, theoretical background and case study

Snoezelen is a Dutch sensorial method initiated 25 years ago and originally meant for individuals with severe developmental disabilities. The method is based on the concept of an individually adapted environment along with the concept of an enabling therapist. Snoezelen was introduced in Israel inl995 and has been in use at the Zvi Quittman residential care centers for persons with intellectual disability in Jerusalem. The work methodology employed at the center is more structured in nature, thus allowing measurement of intervention results, yet without harming the original concept of the enabling therapist. This article suggests the Snoezelen as a possible intervention milieu for applying physical therapy intervention for individuals with Down syndrome. Theoretical possibilities for this population as well as two case studies are described. It is iterated that the mode of intervention described in this article is not compatible with the original concept of the Snoezelen intervention, but rather suggests an expansion of the original concept.