Case Study:
Double the
Sensory Fun
Two dedicated sensory spaces
help kids regulate during the
school day and beyond
The Background
Michelle Howlett, the devoted assistant principal of Washington Elementary School in Schiller Park, Illinois, reached out to Fun and Function with a double project: she wanted to create two sensory spaces, each with their own purpose, to service students in the 4th and 5th grades. With a budget of 20K per room, the Fun and Function team was instructed to start creating the design!
The Vision
To create two separate sensory spaces: a calming room and a gross motor room. These rooms would be used to support students with special needs in areas such as socialization, relaxation, focus, attention and behavior de-escalation.
The Challenge
Michelle reached out in October and needed the rooms set up by February or March. To account for global shipping delays due to Covid, the products would need to be ordered by December. Would the team be able to quickly create and obtain approval for two designs and make this deadline?
Before
After
The Process
Step 1: Choosing the Sensory Tools
The team tackled the calming room first. Michelle envisioned a room with various types of calming lighting, and the Fun and Function Team concurred, recommending the Color Column, accompanying Platform and Curved Mirrors to help kids calm, focus and relax. The Fiber Optic Infinity Tunnel has an interactive component, allowing students to choose which color or combinations they’d like displayed. For combined visual and auditory input, kids can clap, sing or play music to activate the Sound Activated Light Up Wall Panel.
In addition to the visual elements, the team added calming seating and lounging products including the Cozy Canoe and SensaSoft™ Squeezie Seat. These provide gentle calming compression, allowing students to decompress and unwind. The Mushy Smushy Beanbag Chair and Jaxx Lounger Jr create cozy spots to focus or read.
The motor room features exciting gross motor elements like the Adaptive Climbing Wall, offering kids a heavy-work challenge while they have a blast trying to reach the top! The comfy Crash Mats underneath provide not only a safety net but a place where kids can romp around and jump to their heart's content. The Jungle Jumparoo and Trampoline with Handrail support balance and core work as kids jump, bounce and let out excess energy.
The middle of the room features a Swing Adjustment System, allowing therapists to choose the optimal swing based on each student's goals and needs. The Hammock Swing helps to calm and build tolerance for movement, while the SensaSoft™ Bolster Swing challenges motor and coordination skills.
Kids can jump around in a structured way on the Hopscotch Gel Floor Tiles. And while they are moving on the floor, students can run over to the versatile SensaSoft™ Rocking Balance Beam. This can be used on either the flat or domed side, allowing therapists to work on a variety of therapeutic activities.
Step 2: Design & Layout
The team designed the space with sensory stations in the corners and around the perimeter of the room, leaving the swings, which require the most floor space, in the center. This way, multiple kids can enjoy the room at the same time, while maintaining everyone's safety.
The End Result
Michelle was pleased with both room design proposals. With the tight schedule, orders were processed immediately and the rooms were installed by the needed date.
The Washington Elementary School students couldn’t be happier in their new sensory spaces. Michelle describes the rooms as:
“Exactly what we imagined and we wouldn’t change a thing!”
Case Study:
Double the
Sensory Fun
Two dedicated sensory spaces
help kids regulate during the
school day and beyond
The Background
Michelle Howlett, the devoted assistant principal of Washington Elementary School in Schiller Park, Illinois, reached out to Fun and Function with a double project: she wanted to create two sensory spaces, each with their own purpose, to service students in the 4th and 5th grades. With a budget of 20K per room, the Fun and Function team was instructed to start creating the design!
The Vision
To create two separate sensory spaces: a calming room and a gross motor room. These rooms would be used to support students with special needs in areas such as socialization, relaxation, focus, attention and behavior de-escalation.
The Challenge
Michelle reached out in October and needed the rooms set up by February or March. To account for global shipping delays due to Covid, the products would need to be ordered by December. Would the team be able to quickly create and obtain approval for two designs and make this deadline?
Before
After
The Process
Step 1: Choosing the Sensory Tools
The team tackled the calming room first. Michelle envisioned a room with various types of calming lighting, and the Fun and Function Team concurred, recommending the Color Column, accompanying Platform and Curved Mirrors to help kids calm, focus and relax. The Fiber Optic Infinity Tunnel has an interactive component, allowing students to choose which color or combinations they’d like displayed. For combined visual and auditory input, kids can clap, sing or play music to activate the Sound Activated Light Up Wall Panel.
In addition to the visual elements, the team added calming seating and lounging products including the Cozy Canoe and SensaSoft™ Squeezie Seat. These provide gentle calming compression, allowing students to decompress and unwind. The Mushy Smushy Beanbag Chair and Jaxx Lounger Jr create cozy spots to focus or read.
The motor room features exciting gross motor elements like the Adaptive Climbing Wall, offering kids a heavy-work challenge while they have a blast trying to reach the top! The comfy Crash Mats underneath provide not only a safety net but a place where kids can romp around and jump to their heart's content. The Jungle Jumparoo and Trampoline with Handrail support balance and core work as kids jump, bounce and let out excess energy.
The middle of the room features a Swing Adjustment System, allowing therapists to choose the optimal swing based on each student's goals and needs. The Hammock Swing helps to calm and build tolerance for movement, while the SensaSoft™ Bolster Swing challenges motor and coordination skills.
Kids can jump around in a structured way on the Hopscotch Gel Floor Tiles. And while they are moving on the floor, students can run over to the versatile SensaSoft™ Rocking Balance Beam. This can be used on either the flat or domed side, allowing therapists to work on a variety of therapeutic activities.
Step 2: Design & Layout
The team designed the space with sensory stations in the corners and around the perimeter of the room, leaving the swings, which require the most floor space, in the center. This way, multiple kids can enjoy the room at the same time, while maintaining everyone's safety..
The End Result
Michelle was pleased with both room design proposals. With the tight schedule, orders were processed immediately and the rooms were installed by the needed date.
The Washington Elementary School students couldn’t be happier in their new sensory spaces. Michelle describes the rooms as:
“Exactly what we imagined and we wouldn’t change a thing!”
