Representatives of Bristol Public Schools, KultureCity and state officials gathered at Ivy Drive School on Wednesday to unveil the first school-based sensory room in the Northeast.
“The beautiful sensory room here at Ivy Dr. school was designed and built for our students to access pro-social regulation tools in a safe and adaptive space built to promote regulation,” said Emily Gomes.
“I began my career as a special education teacher working primarily with students with challenging behaviors and difficulty managing and regulating their emotions,” continued Gomes. “After many years working with students facing these challenges, I have come to recognize that the function of many of these behaviors is sensory regulation.”
Gomes is the principal of Ivy Drive School.
Special Education Director for the Connecticut State Department of Education Bryan Klimkiewicz and State Representative Mary Fortier (D-District 79) joined KultureCity leadership as well as several representatives from Bristol Public Schools for the ribbon cutting event.
Superintendent Dr. Catherine Carbone, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Michael Dietter and Executive Director of Communications, Community Partnerships, and Strategic Planning of Bristol Public Schools Brian Burke were among those present from Bristol Public Schools.
Bristol Public Schools formed a district-wide partnership with KultureCity, the nation’s leading nonprofit on sensory accessibility and acceptance for those with invisible disabilities, to bring sensory-friendly spaces to the district.
The new Ivy Drive School sensory room features multi-sensory activity panels, bubble walls and a custom art piece featuring the Ivy Drive School mascot Emerald the Dragon.
“To see the school district here in Bristol step up and teach students that it’s OK to be autistic, to have PTSD, to have other invisible disabilities is something that you can embrace about yourself and be a part of the world and you get to share that with the rest of the world is such a critical step towards building a better future, and that’s what’s happening here today,” said Sean Culkin.
Culkin is a KultureCity board member and an autism self-advocate.
One in six people has a sensory need or invisible disability such as autism, ADHD, PTSD and more that can affect their ability to perform daily functions. Staff members of Ivy Drive School were trained through a certification process to recognize students with sensory needs and handle situations involving sensory overload using available tools such as the sensory room.
Two additional sensory rooms are currently being completed at Ellen P. Hubbell Elementary School and Chippens Hill Middle School.
Laura Bailey can be reached at lbailey@bristoledition.org
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