Case Study:
Texas Tranquility
We always dreamed of
having a sensory space!
The Background
Jennifer Mills Phillips, Special Populations Director at Kemp Independent School District, TX, first heard about Fun and Function when their district received a catalog at the beginning of the school year. She reached out to the Sensory Room Design Team, explaining that she had noticed an increase in behavior outbursts from her students and felt they could benefit from a dedicated space that would offer tools for social-emotional regulation.
The Vision
To create an active sensory room to help dysregulated students, which would include a small calming area. This room would be geared for students in the intermediate school, in grades 3-5.
The Challenge
There was some existing cabinetry that could not be moved. Would the team successfully integrate it into the design from a functional and aesthetic standpoint?
Before
After
The Process
Step 1: Choosing the Sensory Tools
The Fun and Function Team got straight to work, creating a fantastic design with a strong active component and cozy calming area.
Kids love climbing on the Adaptive Climbing Wall, a popular product that fosters confidence while strengthening balance and coordination. The Crash Mats underneath keep kids safe, and also provide an outlet for romping around and releasing restless energy. The SensaSoftTM Platform Trampoline provides additional jumping action, enhancing self-regulation while working on gross motor skills.
Several active products also encourage social integration. The SensaSoftTM Roller Slide with Lights provides a multi-sensory experience with visual stimuli, deep pressure, and vestibular input all in one, while encouraging turn-taking. The SensaSoftTM Rockin Roll Top is a versatile product that can be used in multiple ways, all of which encourage social play and movement. Students need to use motor planning and socialization to get the SensaSoftTM Play Barrel moving!
The Custom Corner Bubble Tube Area is a great place for kids
to chill out and reset their mood. The Interactive Rainbow
Panel helps calm over responders with a relaxing visual
experience and interactive touchpad.
The SensaSoftTM Roller Slide with Lights offers deep
pressure and vestibular input as kids roll down. It also
strengthens gross motor skills and improves body
awareness.
The Sound Activated Light Up Wall Panel encourages
speech and vocalization through sound activated lights!
Kids can make noises with their voice or even by
clapping their hands or playing music, and the LED
lights will glow in response.
Jumping on the The SensaSoftTM Platform Trampoline
helps kids develop gross motor skills, coordination and
balance. It’s also great for a quick brain break or as part
of a sensory diet.
The team also made sure to provide plenty of activities to help
kids release energy.
The SensaSoftTM Musical Hopscotch Pad provides a fantastic
interactive experience for kids of all ages. When kids hop on a
colored square on the hopscotch pad, a corresponding square
lights up on the wall and music begins to play! It’s a great way
to encourage movement and it offers visual and auditory
feedback.
Kids can make their own music and sound with the UV
Musical Tactile Panel. Kids turn the knobs and press the
shapes on the glowing panel, and then listen to a range of
audio options including bells, nursery rhymes, animal sounds
and more! It’s great for visual stimulation as well as fine motor
coordination.
The team included many more features such as the Calming
Fiber Optic Jellyfish with their exciting tentacles, Gel Floor
Tiles, a Crash Pad, Sensory Wall Panels and more. Every
corner brings another sensory delight for the kids as they
explore their new space!
Step 2: Design & Layout
The End Result
Students love visiting the sensory room so much that the
teachers make sure to work sensory room time into their
daily schedules. Katie has also been sharing some sensory
room ideas with parents whose kids may need extra support
in regulating their sensory needs. She’s now able to guide
them and suggest sensory tools their kids may enjoy in a
sensory corner or room of their own!
Case Study:
Our Lady
of Confidence
We always dreamed
of having a sensory space!
The Background
Our Lady of Confidence School is a full-time special education school in Pennsylvania that serves students with intellectual disabilities as well as other developmental differences including Autism Spectrum Disorder. Our Lady of Confidence is committed to meeting the needs of all of their students by fostering a creative, innovative, and engaging environment.
The Vision
Katie Bier, the principal of Our Lady of Confidence, wanted a room that would help address her students’ sensory needs. She wanted to service kids that needed a calming environment, as well as those who needed to release extra energy. Katie had a list of products that she was considering, but she was open to adding other items that Fun and Function recommended.
The Challenge
Because of the wide age range that the school serves, the team had to make sure the colors and products were appropriate for younger kids, but
mature enough to appeal to older students. As per Katie’s vision, the team needed to create a hybrid space, with sufficient equipment for both calming
and active sensory needs. It was both fun and challenging!
Before
After
The Process
Step 1: Choosing the Sensory Tools
The Fun and Function Team worked with Katie to design a room that would meet the needs of all her students.
The team created so many opportunities for kids to unwind and reset.
The Fiber Optic Softie Beanbag is great for creating an area where kids can get comfortable and relax. The attached fiber optic lights provide tactile and visual stimulation. Kids can also rest on the SensaSoftTM Vibrocoustic Chair which provides soothing vibration and music so that overstimulated kids can calm themselves.
The SensaSoftTM Playhouse is a fantastic calming corner where kids can take a break from outside visual stimuli. It’s also a fun place for imaginary play! We
placed a mesmerizing LED Bubble Tube inside the playhouse as an extra sensory element.
The Custom Corner Bubble Tube Area is a great place for kids to chill out and reset their mood. The Interactive Rainbow Panel helps calm over responders with a relaxing visual experience and interactive touchpad.
The SensaSoftTM Roller Slide with Lights offers deep pressure and vestibular input as kids roll down. It also strengthens gross motor skills and improves body
awareness.
The team also made sure to provide plenty of activities to help kids release energy.
The SensaSoftTM Musical Hopscotch Pad provides a fantastic interactive experience for kids of all ages. When kids hop on a colored square on the hopscotch pad, a corresponding square lights up on the wall and music begins to play! It’s a great way to encourage movement and it offers visual and auditory
feedback.
The Sound Activated Light Up Wall Panel encourages speech and vocalization through sound activated lights! Kids can make noises with their voice or even by
clapping their hands or playing music, and the LED lights will glow in response.
Kids can make their own music and sound with the UV Musical Tactile Panel. Kids turn the knobs and press the shapes on the glowing panel, and then listen to a range of audio options including bells, nursery rhymes, animal sounds and more! It’s great for visual stimulation as well as fine motor coordination.
Jumping on the The SensaSoftTM Platform Trampoline helps kids develop gross motor skills, coordination and balance. It’s also great for a quick brain break or as part of a sensory diet.
The team included many more features such as the Calming Fiber Optic Jellyfish with their exciting tentacles, Gel Floor Tiles, a Crash Pad, Sensory Wall Panels and more. Every corner brings another sensory delight for the kids as they explore their new space!
Step 2: Design & Layout
The End Result
Students love visiting the sensory room so much that the teachers make sure to work sensory room time into their daily schedules. Katie has also been sharing some sensory room ideas with parents whose kids may need extra support in regulating their sensory needs. She’s now able to guide them and suggest sensory tools their kids may enjoy in a sensory corner or room of their own!
