Help us get Body Sox, Weighted Lap Pad, and a Weighted Vest. These items provide much needed deep pressure therapy for students with sensory processing disorders.
Our school has an active Technology Student Association chapter. Students in TSA are involved in many projects that both develop their STEM skills and also give them opportunities to give back to the local community and school. One such project is known as a "Construction Challenge" and students are challenged to fulfill an identified community need through construction.
Last year, Maggie researched and decided to construct a sensory room in a portion of a classroom. This room serves the special needs students in the Life Skills classes at HMS, but sensory rooms also benefit regular education students. The room has an active area, a calming area, and various types of sensory activities. A visit to the sensory center allows the student to be better prepared to learn and increases positive interactions with peers. Because of its success, Maggie wants to add needed materials to make the sensory room even better.
Students will develop academic skills through researching appropriate sensory activities to meet the needs of autistic students. In addition, students are learning to empathize with students who need extra assistance in learning and development. Serving the school community is a valuable tool, and since they are doing it through the TSA group, they are also developing teamwork skills.
In Their Own Words
We want to provide a calming and safe place where students can go to prepare themselves for their learning environment. It can also be used as a place where overwhelmed, non-verbal students can regain composure. Because many of these students can't say what they want, this room will provide options in order to meet their sensory needs.
This project is a Technology Student Association project that will be presented at the state conference. We will document all progress through a portfolio, discussing each step along the challenge. We will then go through an interview to describe what we have built and will gain valuable leadership skills through this process.
The Life Skills class at our school has students that are of various ability levels. Many are in our connections classes, but sometimes get overwhelmed with all of the action and can not handle it. Since we want them to be included in our school, this room can help calm them and get them back to class.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Davis and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
