Support Abbie

For families of children with special needs, even small changes can make a huge impact. Imagine a child too sensory sensitive to join their family for dinner or at the movies. A child who is unable to go into a grocery store or out in the community. Imagine a child who can hold it together at school, but then disintegrates and suffers a melt down at home each day. For people with a developmental disability, the world we live in can be a major source of distress and discomfort. In some cases, the brain may overreact to sensory stimuli. Other times, it may not react enough. This makes it harder to learn, to have and maintain friendships, to function in a family, get and hold a job, and to be fully included in life. An effective method of treating and overcoming sensory processing disorder (SPD), is with the use of a sensory room. These spaces are designed to provide opportunities to decompress and remediate sensory challenges in a way that will help individuals with SPD better function in the world. Daily access to a sensory room helps students access curriculum, learn coping skills, increase positive relationships, and access self- regulation techniques. With a fundraising goal of $20,000.00, your support is crucial to our effort! The project entails the build out of two spaces: a large motor lab, complete with swings, rock climbing wall, monkey bars, etc. (initial sketch pictured left), and a dark sensory room with, weighted blankets, bean bag chairs, led lights, mermaid fabric, projection and fiber optics. Freedom by Design, a student-led, community outreach construction activity, affiliated with the University of Arizona School of Architecture, has taken on the design and build of the sensory motor lab.