Special room provides sensory experiences for students

When you first enter the Multi-Sensory Environment (MSE) room at Heartspring you can’t help but notice the soft lighting, warm colors and children’s handprints painted across the wall. This unique room assists students in stimulating the senses, interacting with others and reinforcing skills such as language and sharing.

In September 2006, the Heartspring School unveiled the K.T. Wiedemann Multi-Sensory Environment Room. As the primary underwriter, the K.T. Wiedemann Foundation provided a generous grant to transform a basic classroom into an expanded therapeutic and educational experience for Heartspring School students.

Three years later, the MSE room was still an active and enjoyable place for students, but many of the activities and toys had begun to show some wear. Thanks to a recent grant from Ronald McDonald Charities, Heartspring was able to purchase new toys and activities adding to each students’ overall sensory experience.

Lindsay Salomon, director of school therapies and applied technology, helped to design and update the MSE room. “Our sensory room incorporates both a calming and visually oriented area as well as a large gross motor area,” she said.

The quiet area is decorated with a bubble column, projector, fiber optic waterfall, access to weighted blankets, fidget toys and big fluffy bean bags. The gross motor area includes a loft for students to jump from into crash pillows, a custom built swing set with four different types of swings to fit each student’s unique preferences, as well as a ball pit, scooters, floor piano, ladder lights and a variety of other activities with which students can interact.

Heartspring School teacher Jennifer Luby has seen the benefit of the MSE room. “When one of my students first arrived at Heartspring he spent the majority of the first several days crying due to the new change. However, when we would go to the MSE room he would laugh and interact with the features available in the room,” she said. “He also would consistently choose the MSE room as a break choice which told me that he felt that the room was enjoyable and comforting for him. We were very thankful that he found something that he was able to enjoy during his transition period which allowed him to feel more comfortable at Heartspring. A year and a half later, he still enjoys going to the MSE room where he likes to swing and play with the therapy balls.”

When a student enters the MSE room he or she may utilize the “choice board” which allows any non-verbal student to select from a variety of images that represent different activities throughout the room. Almost every student at Heartspring has a favorite activity within the MSE room. “I like going on the swing,” said Heartspring student, Matthew. “It’s the one that looks like a log and allows you to spin in circles and such.”

For Heartspring School teacher Jason Chalashtari and the students in his classroom, the MSE room is used for recreation and leisure time. Many of his students select the space as a break choice and he has seen students make tremendous progress in gross motor skills and functional daily life skills.

Often, outcomes at Heartspring are measured by the personal success of each child. Chalashtari recalls a former student that was finally able to walk up a ramp on an outing because of the balance activities he utilized in the MSE room.

The MSE room at Heartspring is just one more stepping stone as we continue to create a path to independence for children with special needs.