Park School: Katie's Corner Multisensory and Therapy Rooms

Narratives

What exemplary ideas do the designs contain that enhance learning?

The room offers a wide array of passively accessed sensory experiences for people of all cognitive, neurological and physical levels. It offers unique mental and physical relaxation, while heightening a person’s level of awareness. The environment is controlled for maximum access with minimum effort.
The room provides a level of sensory therapy through visual, auditory, tactile, and vestibular senses that is both positive and stress free while being stimulating at a very gentle level. Similar to the effect of meditation, individuals leave feeling relaxed but alert and more in control of themselves — ready to learn.

What innovations in the planning, programming and design process supported the realization of those exemplary ideas?

The various sensory equipment featuring unbreakable styrene mirrors, fiber optics, and interactive exhibits allow children to experience vibrations, lights, colors and sounds. Children control each apparatus in ways appropriate to their needs — with hand switches, by foot pressure, by voice volume or through body movement. These sensory activities can help with motor skills, speech and social interaction. Some special features include:
•An overhead projector that provides calming pictures across a wall and a portion of the ceiling
•Aroma therapy is used to induce a calm state while cushions and supportive seating provide vibration alone or in time with music
•A simple touch activates musical floor squares or bubble tubes that cycle through a range of colors
•Sound sensitive colors that rotate at different speeds in an infinity tunnel, which gives an optical illusion of infinite depth
•A tactile wall with brushes to scratch and chains to rattle