Austintown schools unveils new room to help kids calm down, improve learning

AUSTINTOWN

School officials unveiled the district’s new sensory room Thursday during an open house.

A sensory room offers a place for students to go during classes to either calm down or move around to help them learn better or become more engaged during learning. The room is in the kindergarten wing of Austintown Elementary School, 245 Idaho Road.

The walls are painted dark blue, and the windows currently have black

covers on them. Becky Morris, director of special education for the district, said motorized blinds will be installed for the option to change the lighting in the room.

The room is 600 square feet, and the district spent $27,000 on equipment for the room through a federal Medicaid reimbursement program. The room was not paid for by general-fund money or special-education funds, Morris said. That is because the room is for all students, not just ones in special education.

A spokesperson with the Mahoning County Educational Service Center couldn’t comment on whether this was the first sensory room in the county, but Maureen Hough, occupational therapist for Austintown schools employed through the MCESC, said, “Some districts have parts and pieces [of a sensory room] within classroom settings, but to have it this broad and have this much equipment” is new, she said.

During the open house, a few students enjoyed using the equipment. There was a trampoline with a stand to hold onto, a wide multipurpose swing and beanbag chairs, among other items.

Read more about the new facility in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.