Lions Club Donates Sensory "Den" to Malcom Bridge Elementary

students with multiple disabilities are benefiting from a new sensory "den" that allows them to explore a variety of objects and textures.

Ginger Schmidt, of Northeast Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency and a teacher of the visually impaired, and Wendy Harrison, speech and language pathologist for the Oconee County Schools, recently met with the Oconee Lions Club to discuss needs for students with disabilities, a news release stated.

The teachers explained there was a need for a wheelchair accessible sensory den-- a space large enough to fill with items of varying textures that stimulate tactile learning.

"The items are attached from above with elastic," Schmidt said in an interview with Oconee Patch.  "The students can grasp them and release and the items return back to the same spot.  This develops mental mapping."

She went on to explain how else students may benefit from the new learning tool.

"Because of the level of disabilities, these kids rarely initiate reaching out on their own, and instead usually have a lot of things handed to them," she said.  "This offers them an experience to initiate that movement themselves."

Research shows that students benefit more from this type of environment rather than hand-over-hand contact, Schmidt said.

Teacher Ashley Down's classroom was already equipped with a "Little Room" --a smaller version that students can only access when lying down-- but not all 5 students could use it, she said.

The newly-donated sensory den will  encourage exploration and development of early orientation and mobility skills while students remain in their wheelchairs.

Lion Bob Davis volunteered his carpentry skills to construct the den, she said.

"He did a beautiful job of responding to the space in the classroom," Schmidt remarked.  "It was built in 3 pieces with special bolts." 

The best part is, she said, the sensory den may be moved, so that students with multiple disabilities who attend other Oconee schools or those in nearby counties may share it. 

"We can take it on the road eventually," Schmidt said. "I'm proud that Oconee has made this happen."