Sensory areas are rigorously crafted to create a multisensory expertise that may assist us chill out, focus, or just benefit from the second. In this episode, host Nancy Chung interviews occupational therapist and School Specialty’s material professional for Special Needs, Cecilia Cruse. We additionally welcome again School Specialty’s National Education Strategist, Dr. Sue Ann Highland.
Good for the Margins, Good for the Masses
Cecilia remembers the story of “Cedric,” a pupil with autism and excessive sensory preferences. When it was acknowledged that Cedric may get the sensory food plan he wanted from a sensory area with a beanbag chair and weighted blanket, academics began utilizing the area with him earlier than he escalated in the direction of a meltdown.
Over time, academics and business specialists have come to understand that these kind of sensory areas are useful for all college students, in addition to academics, directors, and nearly everybody else. What maybe started as an lodging for a marginal few college students is now a part of common design.
Universal design is, what was designed for the margins turns into good for the lots. In this case, Cedric and lots of different college students like him wanted one thing particular for his or her wants. And now we’re seeing, particularly post-pandemic, that these sensory areas hit a necessity for social emotional studying and well being and wellness.
Cecilia Cruse
Sensory Poll to Learn Student Preference
Do you want visible enter? Do you want audio enter? Take a ballot to search out out pupil sensory preferences for when they should self-regulate. Some college students might profit from one thing so simple as chewing gum for oral motor self-regulation or a relaxing aromatherapy scent for olfactory senses. You can use fidgets for tactile enter, a swing or rocking chair for vestibular enter, or weighted merchandise for deep-pressure proprioceptive enter.
Different college students could have completely different wants, typically altering by the day, so it’s vital to search out out what everybody wants and attempt to present a number of sorts of enter choices.
When it involves how we implement it, simply strive it. Jump in and be taught collectively. Learn along with your college students and allow them to inform you what they like and what they don’t like.
Dr. Sue Ann Highland
Sensory Spaces Help Reduce Anxiety and Stress, for Everyone
Teachers, principals, and workers must also be thought-about when designing sensory areas. Easing their stress and anxiousness is vital for his or her well-being and the well-being of the scholars of their classroom. And displaying them their wants are vital is a good way to obviously convey that their contributions are valued and appreciated.
Cecilia Cruse MS, OTR/L
Cecilia has devoted herself to the well being and well-being of others all through a 38-year profession as a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist, credentials she retains immediately (OTR/L). Her expertise in pediatrics with school-based providers (together with preschool and Head Start applications), acute care, and outpatient pediatric settings, together with Augusta University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, have made her a priceless useful resource to educators and communities. She has shared her information on nationwide tv, in displays at numerous nationwide, state, and native conferences, and as a broadcast creator.
Sue Ann Highland, PhD
Dr. Sue Ann Highland is the National Education Strategist for School Specialty. As an Education Strategist, she makes use of her experience in academic initiatives and administrative management to assist academics and leaders rework instructing and studying.
In addition to her work at School Specialty, Highland has additionally served as a change and enchancment advisor to greater than many Colorado enterprise and academic establishments since 2004. In this capability, she enhanced personnel efficiency, streamlined organizational operations, and launched course of enhancements that enhanced productiveness for corporations and colleges. She additionally has a number of years of expertise managing a workforce that transforms studying environments for districts.
Highland derives her experience from over 25 years in schooling, with half of these years in rural districts. She has labored as an Organizational Development Director, an elementary faculty principal, and a faculty district’s Director of Federal Programs, Curriculum and Instruction. In these positions, Highland was answerable for skilled growth and each day administration, in addition to for main initiatives and evaluating workers efficiency and outcomes. She focuses on enchancment, turnaround, and alter administration.
Highland obtained a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Northern Colorado and a Ph.D. in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon University.