Emaretta Branham
Staff Writer
The Office of Student Disability Services has built several sensory rooms across campus to accommodate all students. They incorporate their spaces into campus events, like Convocation, and provide a variety of quiet spaces to work at.
“They started off as pop-up sensory spaces. A pop-up sensory space is a space where sensory items are there for a semester in a building. After the semester is over, we move locations in an attempt to reach all students across campus,” Disability Services Access Coordinator, Amanda Koester said.
The sensory rooms started off at just one location and would move around to different rooms on campus. When the sensory rooms were just popped up a lot of the response from the feedback was from the students using them.
“Once we received such positive feedback from students through our online feedback survey, we decided to make the move to permanent locations. This started with our first space in Rogers 217, The WRIGHT Room which offers a cozy atmosphere with lounge furniture and interactive features. Our second space, The Wright Fit Zone (Edge Hall 112) is a relaxing retreat with comfy seating, ambient lighting, and free coffee. The newest addition, the Wright Team Lounge (Jenkins Field House 019), provides a calming space with study areas, fidgets, and yoga mats. Explore these welcoming spots and unwind in your perfect space,” Koester said.
“The spaces are for all students, not just students registered with our office. All students have access to them all the time” Koester said.
The sensory rooms are not just available for students that are registered with disabilities but to anybody that just needs to get away from a crowded space and can just relax somewhere quieter.
“They were created because students at one point, they wanted a space that kind of felt quiet, calming, relaxing, that was outside of their typical dorm room or residence. So providing them a space that gave that sense of calmness really helped,” Koester said.
The sensory rooms were created for students to have a quiet space to do homework or just relax and get away from the world for a little while. These rooms are to help students both physically and mentally. Each room has different things in them that can help students relax.
“I think they play a role in all aspects, mentally, physically, emotionally. And the fact that they’re there for everybody. I always say you can’t really schedule out when you will need the space,” Koester said.
In the sensory rooms they have comfortable seating such as couches, and chairs or even a bean bag chair. There are also lights and stress toys to help with students. When you go into the rooms the goal is to help you relax for a little while.
Some of the buildings that have sensory rooms are Edge Hall, Jenkins Field House, and Rogers. Student disabilities wants to add more and we are open to space suggestions and that SDS continues their search for a new room.
“Campus Safety unlocks them every morning and locks them every night. If for some reason you wanted to access a space after hours or after the building is closed, you would just call Campus Safety and they would allow you access into that space,” Koester said.
The sensory rooms are designed to be available around the clock, so students can visit whenever they need a break. Whether it’s to de-stress after a long day or take a moment of calm, the spaces are open whenever they’re needed.
Student feedback continues to guide improvements to the sensory rooms, ensuring they remain welcoming and effective spaces for everyone. As the program grows, the goal remains simple: to provide every student with a place to relax, recharge and find calm amid the demands of college life.
