Listen locally
Begin with people
Language, culture, lived experience and local priorities shape the starting conversation.
Sensory Ladders® Global Translation Project
Language travels through relationship.
Sensory experiences, body states and familiar metaphors do not always travel through a direct word for word translation. Each edition is shaped with people who understand the language, culture and everyday life in which it will be used.
Fuelled by infectious curiosity. Sustained by infectious generosity.
Why this matters
People should be able to recognise themselves in the language and meaning.
Free access has allowed Sensory Ladders® to grow beyond a UK resource into an international, co-produced learning community. What began in NHS practice is now being translated, questioned and reshaped through local collaboration.
Communication access may involve written or spoken language, pictures, objects of reference, gestures, numbers, colour, family phrases or AAC. Translation therefore includes how an idea is encountered, not only the words on a page. Local collaborators do not simply receive a finished English tool. Their insights help the whole project learn.
Translation in relationship
Listen locally, shape together and share freely.
The words are important, but so are the people, relationships, images and familiar ways of communicating that give those words meaning.
Review together
More than one voice
Drafts are questioned with people who bring different cultural, communication and professional knowledge.
Share freely
Access grows through generosity
Approved core learning and paper resources are shared without creating another barrier to participation.
The translation process
Local knowledge and project fidelity work together.
Each language community moves at its own pace. Publication comes after the language has been questioned, reviewed and shaped together.
- 01
Begin locally
A bilingual contributor, community, organisation or ambassador starts a conversation about language, access and local priorities.
- 02
Explore the meaning
The group first explores the Sensory Ladders intent: states rather than labels, person-led language, participation rather than control, and support across the person, relationships and environment.
- 03
Translate and adapt
Everyday words, metaphors, images, AAC and cultural meanings are considered together. A literal translation is changed when it would not feel natural or respectful.
- 04
Review together
Language knowledge, lived experience and professional understanding are brought together. Differences are discussed openly and more than one voice reviews the draft.
- 05
Try it in context
Where possible, draft resources are explored in ordinary life, with feedback on clarity, usability and cultural fit.
- 06
Share and keep learning
The project team checks fidelity to the core values before approved resources are shared freely. Each edition remains open to future review.
Infectious generosity
The project travels because people choose to give something of themselves.
Translators, people with lived experience, families, occupational therapists, community partners and Ambassadors contribute time, language, cultural insight and thoughtful challenge. Their generosity does more than create another edition. It helps the whole project notice what its English language beginnings could not see alone.
This is reciprocal learning. Local communities are not simply receiving a finished UK resource. Their questions and adaptations change how Sensory Ladders® are understood and shared everywhere.
Knowledge is offered
People bring words, metaphors, communication forms and cultural understanding.
Power is shared
Meaning is discussed together rather than imposed through a direct translation.
Access is widened
Free resources allow generosity to keep travelling into new relationships and communities.
What stays steady
Core values protect the person, not a rigid template.
Person led
The person’s words, communication and experience remain central.
States, not judgement
No translated colour, word or image should imply good, bad, success or failure.
Participation first
The edition connects sensory understanding to ordinary, meaningful life.
Culturally responsive
Metaphors and phrases are adapted where literal translation would not land well.
Collaborative support
Responsibility sits across the person, relationships, activity and environment.
Free to continue
Core learning and paper resources remain free so community contribution widens access rather than creating another barrier.
A growing international project
Shared, developing and continuing to learn.
Translation status changes as community review progresses. These milestones show the direction of travel rather than an exhaustive final list.
Shared through the project
Arabic
2024
Shared through the project
Greek
2025
Shared through co-production
Zulu and Setswana
2026
Work progressing
Mandarin, Spanish and Portuguese
Community translation and review continue.
New collaboration
Slovakia
Relationships, translation interest and local participation are developing.
Translated resources can support a shared sensory language. They do not replace skilled interpretation or individual communication support when this is needed.
Sensory Ladders® Ambassadors
Global connection needs trusted local relationships.
Ambassadors help carry the project into different cultures and contexts while protecting its co-produced, person-led values. They connect global learning with local language, traditions, communication and everyday life.
Some Ambassadors support translation. Others share resources, gather local reflections, connect communities or help the project keep learning. Each contribution strengthens a network built on reciprocity, respect and generosity.
Your voice can help someone find theirs.
Explore the Ambassadors pageVolunteer with the translation projectWays to contribute
Different knowledge is needed at different stages.
No one translator should be expected to hold the whole process. Strong editions are shaped by a small community with complementary experience.
Language and cultural knowledge
Bilingual people who can draft, question and compare everyday language, metaphor and cultural meaning.
Lived experience and community review
People who can say whether the language feels recognisable, respectful and useful in local life.
Sensory and participation knowledge
Occupational therapists and other contributors who can help protect the intent, professional boundaries and project fidelity.
Join the project
Bring your language, culture and community knowledge.
Translation is a contribution to a living, co-produced resource. It is also an invitation to help the wider project see what its English language beginnings could not see alone.
“Healing, recovery and connection are at the heart of this initiative.”
Global Translation Project reflection
“Your voice can help someone find theirs.”
An invitation to every contributor
“Let us do together what we can and must do together in the interests of all humanity.”
Nelson Mandela, 1992
Global community
Meet the Sensory Ladders Ambassadors
Explore the people and local relationships helping the project travel with care.
ISIC Porto 2025/2026Read the Global Translation poster
Explore the project’s published conference page on cultural adaptation and co-production.
ISIC Porto 2025/2026Explore Bridging Sensory Ladders
Read the conference page connecting sensory states, collaborative support and participation.
Published project updateRead about the Greek edition
Follow one edition from collaborative translation into free sharing.
Global projectExplore Sensory Ladders Global
Continue into the wider published home for international collaboration.