Multi-Sensory Accessibility: Creating a 3D Printed Prototype with Sensory Play Experiences for Speech Therapy

According to The Senses: Design Beyond Vision, designers should be encouraged to employ multi-sensory design in their work by considering sight, and also sound and touch to elevate their designs to be more inclusive and accessible. Sensory play, or activities that stimulate one or more senses while also engaging the user to build a wide range of skills, including speech and language, is an underutilized activity in speech therapy; the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the adoption of virtual mental health services. With at-home speech therapy apps becoming increasingly more popular for children, my project aimed to amplify this experience through the creation of a 3D-printed tablet stand that integrated sensory play experiences. The tablet stand was designed for and intended to be used primarily by elementary-aged children to enhance their at-home speech therapy experiences. The stand could also be used by children of the same age to enhance other virtual cognitive therapy experiences, such as therapy for anxiety, ADHD, ADD, or autism that could benefit from sensory play.