I recently came across a Facebook post by Joanna Grace sharing the sad news that Flo Longhorn has died. It stopped me in my tracks. Flo was someone who encouraged us in the very early days of Trabasack, offering advice and cheering us on when we needed it most. She also gave us guidance about ways to play with and encourage our son, who has profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).
I wanted to share this news with the community, both to honour her life and to remember the extraordinary impact she had on so many of us. To create this post I have used some of the many tributes and comments on the fb post.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Flo Longhorn, an international leader in sensory education, has died. |
| She transformed how educators support learners with profound and multiple learning disabilities. |
| Her legacy lives on through the teachers she trained, the tools she created, and the joy she brought to Very Special people. |
A Life Lived Loud, Bright—and Sensory
Flo Longhorn never simply entered a room—she arrived in full technicolour. She lit up spaces, hearts, and minds, bringing with her the joy and power of sensory learning. A pioneer in education for disabled children with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), Flo championed a vision rooted in love, laughter, and deeply-held respect.
When news of her death broke, tributes poured in from every corner of the world. Former students, educators, families, and friends shared stories of a woman whose ideas rewired the field—and whose humour and humanity made her unforgettable.
Her Final Day
Flo died just days after attending the funeral of her long-time friend and fellow sensory pioneer, Richard Hirstwood. She spent that day immersed in memory and community—true to form. After the service, she enjoyed a curry, tipped the waiter generously, and promised to return.
Later that evening, while with fellow educator Les Staves, Flo had a stroke. Her husband, Roger, was able to reach her bedside before she lost consciousness. She died shortly after.
She Called Them “Very Special”
Flo always referred to the children she worked with as “Very Special”—not out of sentiment, but out of fierce respect. For decades, she advocated for sensory learning that was creative, playful, and rooted in human rights. She didn’t accept “care” as enough. She wanted education. Joy. Expression. Choice.
And she built a whole world of learning to deliver it.
Her early books were a lifeline for teachers. As Ann Higgins in Ireland remembered, “There was no curriculum, no training. I devoured her books… she was phenomenal. She was and is my hero.” When children with PMLD first gained access to education in the mid-1990s, Flo filled school halls with teachers seeking guidance, bringing hope where there had been uncertainty.
She helped rewrite what was possible for disabled learners—one spinning umbrella, one bubble tube, one joyful classroom at a time.
The Teacher’s Teacher
Flo trained thousands of educators around the world. Teachers often say her courses left them “buzzing” for weeks. Her sessions were packed with practical ideas and sprinkled with stories, mischief, and “pure exuberance.” She gave people permission to be bold, to experiment, and to see beauty in every learner.
Some called her books “bibles.” Others called her an “absolute legend.” She’d probably laugh—and disagree—but it’s true.
Her ideas shaped practices in places as far apart as Burundi, Denmark, and India. Her sensory umbrellas still hang in classrooms across the UK. And her messages still echo in lesson plans and staff rooms: be playful, be present, listen.
One educator shared how attending Flo’s courses was a pivotal moment in their career, describing leaving her seminars “bursting full of ideas and excitement.” Another recalled how Flo inspired their entire career as a headteacher: “Thanks to her and the experience that school gave me, I never left!”
Always Herself
Flo was never just her job. She was kind, funny, sharp, and unapologetically herself. She could be tender or blunt, depending on what you needed. She had dyscalculia, which she spoke about openly—helping others to recognise their own barriers without shame.
She had dyscalculia, a fact she spoke about openly. As one person shared, Flo’s honesty was a ‘game changer’ for their own self-esteem, helping them recognise their own learning differences without shame.
Her younger brother Colin shared a story that captures her heart: as a child of just 11 or 12, Flo rescued an oil-covered seagull during a family holiday. Despite her father’s warnings and getting her dress covered in oil, she cradled the distressed bird and walked a mile to the coastguard to ensure it was rescued. “As a family we are very proud of her achievements and influence in special education,” he wrote.
She couldn’t walk past pain. Not then. Not ever.
A Legacy of Joyful Rebellion
Flo’s influence was truly global, with her international consultancy work transforming education practices across continents. Her creative tools, especially the iconic “sensory umbrellas,” became symbols of her joyful and imaginative approach. Educators describe her work as “a beacon of light” during times when there was little guidance for supporting learners with PMLD.
Her legacy lives not just in the “sensory story shoe boxes” or curriculums she developed, but in the generations of teachers she inspired, the families she supported, and the lives she enriched with her “wicked sense of humour” and boundless generosity.
Les Staves said it best: “She and Richard were great partners in sensory crime… our inspiration was fired by them. Keep the lights flashing. Let the umbrellas spin forever.”
Flo Longhorn didn’t just teach. She lit the path. She changed the game. And she made the world better for disabled children, their families, and the professionals who support them.
Continuing Her Mission
Her call to “KEEP THE LIGHTS FLASHING, LET THE UMBRELLAS SPIN FOREVER” is a powerful reminder to continue her mission with the same energy, love, and pure exuberance she brought to everything she did.
She leaves behind her husband Roger, her family, and an enormous community of friends, educators, and advocates who will carry her work forward—with joy, irreverence, and love.
As one person commented: as they say in Ireland, Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann—her like will never be again.
Add your memories or tributes at:
Facebook, there is a long thread here from Jo Grace’s original post
Please find Flo’s free resources and apps here 👉 https://sites.google.com/view/flolonghornsensorybooksfreedow/home