Sensory And Sensibility: Helping Students With Autism
My students need 2 weighted bracelets, 8 flourescent light filters, 3 therapy balls, 1 vibrating snake & a peapod chair to engage their senses throughout the school day!
"You have got to keep autistic children engaged with the world. You cannot let them tune out." Temple Grandin's words are our classroom motto. My students need sensory stimulation from touching, seeing, and hearing to allow them to focus and engage in classroom instruction.
Our classroom is a kaleidoscope of students!
We are: students from diverse economic and familial backgrounds, students learning English or Sign Language, students with Autism and Intellectual delays, and most of all, we are busy and active learners!
My students attend school in a growing East Nashville neighborhood. To ensure the best education for students with special needs, our district has begun an initiative to include all students with special needs for at least 70% of the school day with their same age peers. We are working hard to meet this goal, but we still need other supports.
My Project
These sensory supplies allow students with Autism the opportunity to practice controlling and integrating their sensory responses. When students are using sensory supports, they are better able to calm and focus themselves. Just by holding a vibrating pillow, squishing a therapy ball, or holding a rainstick near their ear my students will improve their control of other senses and help them in the classroom. Something as small as a weighted bracelet can drastically improve my students' abilities to write and perform in the classroom. Better sensory regulation improves students' attention, hyperactivity, emotional regulation, energy levels, and social interaction. My students will be better supported in the general education classroom with their same age peers. These supports will improve my students' engagement with their instruction and build positive interactions with their classmates!
Students with Autism struggle with managing their senses.
My students with Autism often have more difficulty filtering out the sensory stimulation we never even notice. Sensory supplies are often expensive and a low-priority for high poverty schools. However, learning sensory integration skills are imperative to give my students the same social and academic opportunities as their peers. If we build these skills in their youth, the benefit will last a lifetime!
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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 Ms. Wilhelm and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.