We are delighted to announce the winner of our Midi Bubble Tube competition is…
(drum roll)
Helen said:
Thankyou soooooooo much I’m so happy! My two autistic sons will absolutely love it! Especially my pre verbal 8 yr old! It will make such a difference to him!
Congratulations Helen, it sounds like the Bubble Tube has found a good home.
Thank you to all who took part.
As part of the ‘play’ module which we studied at university, we were generously invited along to Rompa to meet the people who were designing and developing sensory equipment and toys for a wide range of clients. The day began with an introduction with Tania, an Occupational Therapist who works in the role of a Product Assistant. Tania firstly spoke about her journey into this role and about how her experiences on practice placements as an OT helped her to identify barriers and enablers to the development of sensory products. We then heard some history about the company and discussed the need for sensory based equipment and toys for use within therapy. Following our discussion and a browse through the Rompa catalogue, we were guided through the set-up sensory room which incorporated products designed and built by the staff at Rompa. The products were demonstrated and explained to us and we had time to think about how each product could be utilised by an OT and graded for our clients. We initially focussed on children and how these products could be used within a paediatric setting (as this was relevant to our ‘play’ module) however soon discovered uses for these products for a wider range of clients such as stroke patients, dementia patients and those with mental health conditions.
After a tour around the sensory room and introductions to the toys and equipment, we were given the opportunity to explore the equipment for ourselves and to apply the ‘sensory magic’ technology to a given case study. Our case study involved preparing a sensory room for a group of children with ASD whom had been for a day trip to the fair. This was a very fun and educational task which really got us thinking and working collaboratively to utilise the equipment we were given. This involved bubble lamps, various lights presented in creative ways around the room and ‘sensory magic’ which allowed us to select music as well as a video or still image on the interactive screen for added sensory input.
We really liked that these toys and gadgets are not just for kids. They are used for adults with dementia too as well as well as clients with different abilities and needs which makes them much more widely used and applicable to areas of practice! However there may be a lack of availability of the equipment to play with from the wide catalogue range and this equipment is sadly not always affordable for all clients despite the value for money which Rompa offer.
From our experience of visiting Rompa, we learnt that the use of sensory equipment can promote wellbeing for individuals living with a multitude of conditions. These can range from individuals on the autistic spectrum to older adults living with dementia. It has been a crucial learning experience which has contributed to our development as up and coming Occupational Therapy graduates. It will be beneficial to be aware of the variety of sensory equipment that is available in our professional working with individuals with sensory difficulties. We also learnt that Occupational Therapists have unique skills that allow them to work in a variety of non – traditional positions.
Overall, our visit to Rompa was extremely interesting and inspiring. It allowed us as therapists to visualise ways in which we can assist our clients with sensory impairments to become fully involved within their own environment. The demonstration of the ‘Sensory Magic’ programme allowed us to appreciate how much technology has advanced over recent years and enlightened us to the possibilities of incorporating the whole room with visual effects, sounds and smells, using one user friendly piece of equipment. As therapists, it is highly beneficial for us to be able to offer advice and educate our client groups on the available equipment for children and/or adults with Sensory Impairments, therefore this opportunity has been an invaluable step for us to gain first-hand knowledge and experience of the products and how they can be used to assist clients with sensory needs to live a more happy and fulfilled life.
We are now aware of the many types of sensory equipment available to us as OT’s and how these can be used in a variety of ways with different client groups within therapy. We would now consider using Rompa for advice and equipment in our future practice to enhance the lives of our clients with and without sensory conditions.
We would finally like to say a big thank you to Tania and the entire Rompa team for facilitating this valuable experience and would recommend this service and their products to Occupational Therapists and other allied health professionals working within any area of practice!
3rd Year OT Students, Derby University.
At the Children’s Cancer Hospital in Minsk last November, Christmas came early for the patients and staff as two members of Chernobyl Children Life Line Pinxton and East Derbyshire Link visited Belarus to present to the hospital some sensory lighting for use with the children suffering from cancer. The sensitive lighting were part of a consignment of sensory equipment purchased from ROMPA at Chesterfield who also donated some items in support of the charities efforts.
The hospital in Minsk is very different to those here in the UK. It can be a very dull, unhappy place for the children receiving treatment there, with the most basic of facilities. From what was seen, and feedback from an earlier visit our link decided that it would be a wonderful gesture if we could provide some sensory equipment for use in the ward to brighten it up and create a more relaxed and happy environment for the children and their families. Richard our link chairman and Tony vice chairman and host family member took over these lights and delivered them to the hospital where they were extremely gratefully received! Below are some quotes from a letter written to Richard from Elena the child psychologist at the Children’s Cancer Hospital in Minsk. I think it says it all really.
Dear Richard and friends,
Thank you very much for your visit and for all these wonderful presents! As you remember the girls, who came to the cabinet to meet you, asked me to give them the Laser Sphere Projector to their ward. They were so happy and pleased the next morning! They were full of emotions! They said that it was a magic and beautiful thing; they had never seen such a marvellous thing before. Even those in the ward, who wanted to sleep, were trying not to fall asleep and got pleasure from the projector. In the morning they again switched on the projector and got wonderful emotions to start the day. There were so many happy faces, the children’s and their mums’!
To be honest with you, morning is not a good time for our patients, as many of them don’t feel well and some of them have to go on unpleasant treatment, very often the mood of our patients isn’t positive at all. But that morning when I entered the ward I met all of them full of life and vigour, especially when I allowed them to leave this thing for the whole week, as they thought they would have to return it in the morning, as it belongs to the hospital. Moreover, I was really shocked by one of the big girl. It’s not a secret to everyone that hospital is a dull place like prison, where nobody wants to go or to stay, especially our place, it’s a difficult place to be.
One of the older girls, who was from that ward, when she knew that “a magician thing’ was going to stay for the whole week in their ward, she said: “ it’s a pity that I go home, as I wouldn’t have a chance to see this beautiful thing, but I will stay for more than one day!” I have never had this before that children feel sorry that they are going home and they want to stay in hospital! Even a very good concert never left so many emotions in children’s minds. Can you imagine how much happiness the projector brought to the children, as they want to stay! Thank you very much again for this!
You have left now, but the memories of your visit are still here with us. Today we had a talk with the elder girls about your visit with Tony. We were talking about such wonderful people as you, who have BIG HEARTS, who are able to open these big hearts to other people, who suffer greatly and who have problems. People who have had their own difficulties and problems in life, hasn’t become indifferent, more over their hearts are so huge, that they gave a place there for the children from another part of the world, – from Belarus. Their hearts are as strong as they were able to make the children’s sufferings into happiness and pleasure, being with these people.
Thank you for helping my patients to come through their sufferings and get hope and happiness!
Elena Klochko.
Psychologist of the Children’s Cancer Hospital Minsk ( Belarus)
This is why the members of our link do what we do, and every year open our hearts and homes to host the unfortunate child victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster who live in Belarus. Hosting is for four weeks during the summer and offer a life changing opportunity to the children who are still suffering the aftermath of the horrific Chernobyl nuclear disaster. But with the problems of Belarus and Chernobyl put aside the children can enjoy themselves while receiving a much needed recuperative break. The link usually brings a group of around 18 – 20 consisting of children and their leader to the UK who stay with host families in and around our area. Breathing our clean uncontaminated air and eating our fresh clean nutritious food boosts the children`s immune systems which can last up to 2 years, hopefully adding to their life expectancy and offering some hope in their difficult lives. This is further enhanced with the provision of a two years supply of multi vitamins for each child on their return home to complement their poor diet at home.
It`s a truly wonderful life changing experience for everyone involved. My children and I host every year and we all absolutely love it. We all enjoy the day trips and visits to numerous places around our area, with everyone getting involved and having fun. The children both English and Belarussian mix well forming strong bonds and becoming firm friends…many even referring to each other as “Belarusian or English brothers and sisters”. It is such a rewarding and enjoyable experience and the children will take home with them hope and memories which will last a lifetime.
If you would like to know more about our charity and the work of the Chernobyl Children Life Line, would like to offer your help, offer support either by donating towards the cost of bringing the children to the UK or you are interested in hosting one of these wonderful but less fortunate children then please get in touch. You really can make a difference to a child’s life.
Contact;
Richard A Street (Chairman)
Chernobyl Children Life Line (Pinxton and East Derbyshire Link)
91 Wharf Road, Pinxton,
Derbyshire.
NG16 6LH
Tel: 01773 810712/07816 913787
Email: [email protected]
Website:www.ccll.org.uk/pinxton
It’s that time of year when colleagues and co-workers congregate in a function room to celebrate the achievements of the past year and have a drink or two.
The 5:30 start at the Proact Stadium is quite early and has been known to catch out even the most seasoned party goer. Having not paced myself particularly well last year and overindulged somewhat, I was hoping to learn from my past mistakes and looking forward to watching others make some. Despite my best intentions I still found myself belting out a Pogues tune at 10 o’clock.
The pass the parcel was a hit. Each layer contained another novelty item such as Dame Edna Glasses or a neon wig. The prize at the centre was an extra day of annual leave. Thanks very much Donna!
Highlights for me were Graham letting go and having a dance to Erasure in his fetching Man City Rudolph jumper, Cass doing the “running man” in stilettoes and Leila’s rendition of All I Want for Christmas (is you) with backing volcals provided by Graham, Emma and Cass. There was a very positive vibe to the evening and everyone had a great night.
A great end to a great year.
The National Autistic Society at Drayton Manor
At the end of September, 450 Really Useful Engines gathered in Drayton Manor Theme Park to take part in a Thomas & Friends themed sponsored walk in aid of The National Autistic Society.
Amongst the walkers were lots of children and adults with autism and their families and support workers.
Thanks to Rompa, we had a lovely sensory area in our marquee – including bubble tubes, fibre optic lights and lots of fun bouncy balls and textured toys. This meant we had a lovely, calming area where our supporters could relax and enjoy the sensory experience. They also had a chance to get their faces painted, and even meet the Fat Controller, before embarking on their walk!
Energised and excited by the walk, our supporters picked up their free tickets to the theme park and enjoyed a visit to Thomas Land for the rest of the day.
Our amazing supporters have so far raised over £22,000 with money still coming in. This is all money that allows the NAS to help create a world where people with autism get to lead the lives they choose – not the lives chosen for them.
Providing a relaxing sensory room can make all the difference, and allow people with autism to participate in big events safe in the knowledge they have a quiet retreat – so thank you, Rompa, for helping us make this autism-friendly day possible!
To find out more about autism-friendly fundraising events throughout the year, contact [email protected]
Our attention has recently been drawn to a potential issue that could cause damage to Portable Midi Bubble Tube units (18516), purchased through Rompa before the 1st October 2014. If you have purchased this item you will receive a letter containing this advisory statement, a plastic fitting and some warning stickers.
An issue may arise if an INCORRECT connector is inserted into the socket that is intended for the use of the Rompa Interactive Switch Box (17274) only. This socket, located on the unit’s base, is an RJ45 (or network) socket. Please see the image above.
We would like to take this opportunity to advise you how you can avoid this issue and to provide you with a fixture that will help eliminate such a possibility.
Using an incorrect connector may cause an electrical short across two of the contacts inside the socket. If this happens the unit may suffer an internal connection cable failure which may disable your unit. This can also cause smoke vapour to escape the base unit and this may set off any fire alarms in the vicinity. Tests by the manufacturer have proven that the unit would not ignite into flames as it has safety devices to prevent this.
If you have any questions and or concerns please contact us as follows:
Telephone +44 (0) 1246 211777
E mail – [email protected] please quote ref. PMBT