Touch, taste, smell, hear, see?

Touch, taste, smell, hear, see? Our new sensory room, thanks to a recent special education impact grant through the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit Foundation, is a world of exploration and sanctuary for students who have sensory needs or are overwhelmed with their school day. Our sensory room is a place that offers comfort, relaxation, and a sense of peace. Overactive students are calmed and inactive students are engaged. Students may use the space to take breaks between lengthy assignments and activities. Students with Autism require varying degrees of sensory integration throughout their day, and our sensory room meets those needs.

Although the sensory room is mainly for special education students, any student may utilize it. Parental input was requested to gauge what should be made available to the students. The grant made possible the purchase of a ball pit, an aquarium lamp, bean bag chairs, mood mud and therapy putty, stress balls, a fiber optic and lava lamp, and many other hands-on materials that stimulate at least one of the five senses.

The sensory room provides opportunities for engagement in prevention and crisis de-escalation strategies. Our sensory room is a magical place where our students can enter a special little world filled with lights, moving colors, soothing sounds, and areas where they can touch, feel, and explore a variety of textures and material that stimulate their five senses.   (courtesy of Penn Franklin newspaper)