Sensory rooms are designed to help both children and adults with sensory processing issues. At times, the link between brains and behavior—called “sensory integration”−may over or under-react to various stimuli (Stimuli refers to the things that we see, hear, touch, taste, and feel throughout the day).
In people with sensory processing issues, being over or under-stimulated can result in a variety of behaviors that are distressing to them, such as meltdowns, fighting, acting out, hand-flapping, and others. There also may be a delay in processing words or information while stimulation is off.
Sensory rooms are a form of accommodation to make spaces like classrooms, libraries, and daycares more accessible to those with sensory processing problems. They give a space to “...decompress and confront a variety of sensory issues in a way that will ultimately help them cope.”
What is in a sensory room?
A sensory room is designed to accommodate stimulating more than one sense. The room usually contains products for tactile needs, auditory needs, visual needs, vestibular/motor skill needs, and more.
Some examples include a sound machine, sensory lighting, ball chairs, tactile manipulatives, and weighted blankets. All of these are designed to appeal to different senses and can help people regulate their sensory input.
Sensory rooms for public places generally contain a wide variety of tools for different senses, but individual sensory rooms, like those in homes or in therapy offices for one specific sensory processing issue, are often tailored to one specific person, or a specific group of people’s needs.
What are the benefits of a sensory room?
The main benefit of providing a sensory room is to make your place of business more accessible. Sensory processing disorders occur in at least 1 in 20 people of the general population. That means there is a strong likelihood that a person with sensory processing disorders will, at some point, be a customer and may experience sensory overload or underload. Providing a sensory room (or even a sensory area away from the main area) is one way you can not only be accessible to all customers but also make patronizing your business easier for those with sensory issues or parents with children who have sensory problems.
Besides that benefit, having a sensory room will also help those with sensory issues learn how to self-regulate their behaviors and senses. A safe, secure place gives them a place to decompress before they re-join activities, increasing their ability to socialize and reducing behavioral disruptions that can be physically harmful.
Whether your business is tailored to those with disabilities or not, providing sensory rooms can extend extra help to build coping skills, and it’s a simple means of support.
How do I build a sensory room?
There are a variety of companies that provide this service for a fee but setting up a simple but useful room is very doable without them. There are a few steps that will set up a business for success.
First, designate a room or secluded area to serve as the room. It is important that it evokes a sense of calm, security, and comfort—the room shouldn’t be overwhelmingly large, but it shouldn’t be the corner of a busy floor, either. The best way to decide on a location is to determine the closeness of the room or area to the busy part people want to avoid, and the ability to convert that area effectively.
Second, do some research on sensory toys or tools. There are a ton of possible toys and materials, but there’s no need to fill the room with everything—that may even take away from the ability of the room to do its job. Choose a few toys for each sense, depending on the size of the room. It shouldn’t be overwhelming—just enough for 1-2 people for each sense.
Third, once the room has been set up, create some marketing to let customers know that your business offers this accessibility option. Don’t direct your advertisement just to people with disabilities—instead, make it more general, addressing the entire customer base.
Conclusion
Sensory rooms are a useful accessibility tool for homes and businesses. Because 1 in 20 people have sensory processing disorders, creating a safe space is a simple step to provide more access to a business and allow more people with disabilities equal opportunities to be a customer.
Comments