Once Upon A Time I Designed A Sensory-Friendly Student Space: Here's What I Learned

By: Nichelle N. Cook, Esq, MA

Nothing screams, "AHHHHHH", like a chaotic mind and a learning space not equipped to accommodate it. That being said, when outfitting academic facilities its important to keep in mind how certain aesthetic choices might potentially impact those with sensory challenges. While the topic of sensory-friendliness is most commonly linked to autism, there are several other neurological conditions that directly impact the way that our brains perceive sensory input including, but not limited to, ADHD, OCD, schizophrenia, PSTD, generalized anxiety disorder, epilepsy and a myriad of interrelated co-morbidities.

In one of my previous professional roles, I was afforded the chance to seize a potential funding opportunity for the creation of a student lounge. Having researched various mild to moderate behavioral and intellectual disorders during my Curriculum and Instruction studies at Xavier University of Louisiana and a host of topics related to sensory function during my Clinical Psychology studies at Teachers College - Columbia University, I immediately opted to prioritize sensory-friendliness within the grant proposal. After successfully drafting and submitting the proposal with the support of my colleague partners, we received the funding and the work began. Here's what I learned during the design process...

Lighting Matters

The benefits of light emitting diode (LED) bulbs extend not only to neurodivergent individuals but neurotypical individuals as well. That being said, when given the choice between fluorescent and LED lighting, I chose the latter. Here's why:

• Though fluorescent lights don't automatically trigger seizures in individuals with photosensitive epilepsy, the flickering common to these types of bulbs as they near the end of their lifespan can, in fact, prompt such a response. LED lighting significantly reduces that risk.

• Albeit a little more costly on the front end, LED bulbs also last longer than their fluorescent counterparts (thus reducing replacement costs) and use less energy (leading to lower electric bills).

Another important factor considered in the selection of the room's light fixtures was brightness, given that light sensitivity (also referred to as photophobia) can be triggered by certain ADHD medications as well as anxiety, depression, migraine headaches and a host of other conditions. To directly alleviate this concern, we opted to attach dimming light switches to the LED ceiling panels and to install individual wall lamps at each study station with adjustable brightness.

Lastly, we recognized that nothing, LED lighting included, beats natural light. Given that the space was originally a storage room, it didn't include any windows. To address this issue, I sought approval from the Director of Campus Operations and my collaborative partner, the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement, to instruct the contractor to create two windows within the concrete wall and install white wooden blinds that would allow for sunlight entry on a typical day while enabling blackout for screen projection, when necessary.

Colors Matter Too

When selecting the room's color scheme, my goal was to achieve as much of a calming effect as possible. Given the soothing effect that purple has on my own ADHD and anxiety symptoms, it was convenient that it happened to be one of the school colors. These things considered, we opted for a base color that included a subtle hint of lavender coupled with a royal purple accent wall and black floor border. Although the color combination turned out beautiful in its own right, the colors against the LED lighting proved to be the chef's kiss.

Why The Accent Wall?

When seeking to self-soothe during panic attacks, one of the most common techniques is a process called grounding, which is essentially the act of intensely focusing on the activation of specific sensory functions to redirect the mind away from the racing thoughts prompting the panic symptoms. Though there are a multitude of grounding techniques, one of the easiest to immediately employ is concentrating the eyes on something that brings a sense of calm while deliberately taking slow, deep breaths. The bold purple accent wall contrasted against the pale lavender color of the remaining three are perfect for doing just that.

Textures Are Also Important

When considering textures of flooring panels, furniture and ceiling tiles, we opted for the most basic patterns possible, opining that less was more. One of the reasons for this decision was the consideration of sensory processing disorders which are commonly linked to several neurological conditions. When individuals struggle with sensory processing, seemingly simple things such as textured ceilings that include a lot of detail can cause significant discomfort. In addition, the visual perception challenges associated with schizophrenia can also be negatively impacted by textures that are too involved.

Space Matters

While it might be tempting to fill the space with all types of furniture, it's important to consider the benefits of simply leaving a significant portion of the space empty. Not only does the lack of clutter help to alleviate sensory overload, but it also makes it easier for individuals with mobility challenges to move about with ease. That being said, when designing the space, we opted for spill-resistant grey wooden panel flooring and aligned the furniture mainly along the circumference of the room to allow for ease of wheelchair mobility.

Wrapping Up

Though there were a number of other considerations made in designing the room, for the sake of brevity, I opted to only mention the most essential. In closing, however, I'd like to raise several other suggestions that were not included in the room design, but that have proven to be highly effective from my personal experience and research.

• Fidget items such as spinners, stress balls, Rubik's cubes, etc.

• Ambient sounds (ie. grey noise, white noise, nature sounds)

• Ambient lighting, which is proven to reduce eye strain and is often linked to reduced anxiety

• Essential oil diffusers

• Bean bag chairs - These were a hit in my former ninth grade ELA class when added to my reading corner.

That's all folks! Hopefully my suggestions are helpful to you along your journey toward fostering a beautiful, healthy, peaceful, and joy-filled spaces for you and those you serve to thrive.