Walking into the Calming Corner at West Side Elementary School, the scent of essential oils immediately fills the air.
As you look around, the room is filled with soft toys and flashing, colored lights. Everything in the sensory room was designed to help children on the Autism spectrum.
“You know, if a student spends 10-15 minutes in here when they’re anxious, or they’re having sensory overload, this is a perfect place for them to spend some time before they go back to their academics. It’s just a very calming situation,” said Robyn Cummings, Itinerant Autistic Support Teacher for the Greater Johnstown School District.
The space, which was installed last fall, cost about $15,000. The school raised $800 through a t-shirt fundraiser and received the rest of the money through special education funding.
The room is also a great resource for other students who may need a place to relax.
“We have students with motor impairment, we have students in the life skills classes, so the room was intended for all students with special needs,” Cummings said.
Teachers said one of the kids’ favorite parts about the room is a bubble tube.
At West Side Elementary School alone, there are 25 students with Autism. School officials said they’re expecting at least 14 more Kindergarten students this fall.
“We saw an influx, specifically last year and going into next school year,” said Janelle McCoy, a School Psychologist for the Greater Johnstown School District. “We already have a lot of students diagnosed coming into the district, so it’s more prevalent.”
“We know we need to be prepared with probably another classroom. Between the classroom and itinerant, we will certainly need a new teacher to be able to support them,” Cummings said.
The Greater Johnstown School District has about 70 students who fall on the Autism spectrum. Teachers hope to add calming sensory rooms at the middle and high schools to meet the needs of the older students.
April is Autism Awareness Month and teachers are already gearing up for another t-shirt fundraiser.
