Abstract:

According to a report issued by the world health organization, it is estimated that 15% of the world's population lives with some type of disability. Multiple disability is a term that is not yet fully defined; however, it refers to those people who have two or more disabilities. Children who present this life situation are subject to social and economic vulnerabilities, a significant delay in their development and challenges at the sensory level. Therefore, it is important to mention that speaking of multiple disabilities from a multisensory approach constitutes a direct and practical benefit that favors the development of the different channels, whether auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory and taste.

This article presents the results of a survey applied to different professionals in the area of teaching, therapy, psychology, stimulation, speech therapy, among others, in order to validate the importance, challenges and difficulties of multisensory stimulation as a support tool in the education of children from zero to ten years with multiple disabilities. Since the first years of life are definitive for growth in conjunction with appropriate sensory stimulation programs, which favor their neurological development and their learning for life.

The research was carried out in different institutions focused on special and inclusive education and therapies. They worked directly with eighty professionals from institutions through the application of online surveys, this due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The thirteen-question survey met the objective of collecting information focused on three main axes such as: professional profile of each respondent, processes and methodologies of sensory stimulation intervention, and the importance of sensory stimulation.

The contribution that this study will provide will be relevant for professionals who work with people with multiple disabilities. This to properly manage a quality intervention through sensory stimulation, and that in the future positive results can be obtained by contributing to an integral development in children who will be the main beneficiaries.

In the city of Cuenca, it is important that current information can be generated and that it contributes correctly with interventions or programs based on sensory stimulation for children with multiple disabilities. Being a priority attention group, they need to discover their sensory elements for adequate inclusion.

From the results obtained, it is concluded that professionals are aware of the subject around sensory stimulation and the advances that they have been able to show after the interventions, therefore, this generates a significant importance of sensory stimulation at work in children with disabilities. However, not all professionals have multisensory spaces within institutions. The research carried out aims to make a call for education and / or therapy entities to seek support from public and / or private entities to create and promote these spaces, to continue supporting continuous work with children. This research adds to and supports the information found on the subject and allows it to be easily accessible and above all to provide updated information.

Finally, and from a personal perspective, it is important to contribute to the lives of all people with multiple disabilities from the different roles that we can exercise daily, and why not do it from this area.

Keywords:

Multiple Disability, Education, Multisensory Stimulation, Sensory Integration.