Kolassa Sensory Integration Room
Montcalm School recently opened a new Sensory Integration Room in the Klare School building and employs a full-time Occupational Therapist. The room assists students who are hyper- or hypo- responsive to environmental stimuli. Students benefit from therapies enabling them to self-regulate emotions and maintain a level of alertness when their brains do not receive the sensory information needed to do their jobs. The occupation, or "job," is to function in school and achieve adequate social skills.
Sensory integrative techniques are used in collaboration with the student to identify what activities they find alerting, relaxing, self-soothing and grounding. The room is designed to provide a variety of sensory experience for all sensory systems.
Tactile System
Sense of touch, contributes to feelings of comfort and security if integrated properly and helps develop body awareness. Stimulating activities include hand fidgets, tactile squares with different textures, tactile pillow, bean bags, large floor pillow, and deep pressure blanket.
Visual System
Sense of vision, one of the most important senses in becoming aware of our environment. Stimulating activities include projector with multiple color wheels to change the atmosphere, stimuli and color sensation, mirror ball, wall mirrors, lighted bubble tube, and reflective light panels.
Auditory System
Sense of hearing, aids in communication and auditory processing (the ability to take in sounds, make meaning of them and respond in an adaptive manner). Stimulating activities include surround sound system for music to promote calming and alerting, Somatron chair where music filters through and causes vibrating beats.
Olfactory System
Sense of smell, distinguishes odors, reactions to smells. Stimulating activities include aromatherapy for alerting and calming.
Proprioception System
Where our bodies are in space, what they are doing; deep pressure for calming/organizing/relaxing, grades timing and the amount of pressure used in executing motor movements. Stimulating activities include weighted blanket, weighted vest, weighted medicine ball, weighted lap pad, weighted neck roll, trampoline, suspended ladder, and deep pressure swing.
Please call 866.244.4321 if you have questions regarding the Kolassa Sensory Integration Room and your child's treatment.