On Friday, Nov. 15, a sensory room was unveiled in the School of Social & Behavioral Sciences. This innovative space was created by students Lexie Dunham, Ava Gruia and Caitlyn Castelo as part of a class project.
The carefully thought-out room contains various resources tailored to support individuals with invisible disabilities. The room includes both a sun lamp, beneficial for those experiencing seasonal affective disorder during Michigan's long winter months, and a sunset lamp that creates a gentler alternative to the harsh lighting of the room. In addition, a table in the room holds a variety of fidget toys, which can be used as an “... outlet for anxiety management and focus enhancement,” according to Dunham (senior, psychology).
In one corner of the room, there is a cozy tent furnished with soft pillows and ambient lighting that serves as a peaceful retreat from the daily struggles of student life. Next to the tent, there is a basket with a few blankets, one of which is a type of weighted blanket known for decreasing levels of anxiety. Together, these resources allow the room to cater to students with various struggles.
The idea began in early September when the group started working on an accessibility-focused project for their Global Social Issues class. Through peer interviews and extensive research, they observed the significant effects of invisible disabilities—physical, mental or neurological conditions that are not obvious to others but that can impact a person's day-to-day life. Students with these conditions, such as anxiety, ADHD or autism, are often overlooked and can struggle in academic performance, social interactions and overall well-being on campus.
“When we were brainstorming ideas for the project, we wanted to focus on an issue that had a lasting impact, especially for the students on campus,” explained Castelo (senior, psychology). “That's when we thought of creating a sensory room that would cater to a wide range of individuals such as those with invisible disabilities or those who just need a calming space to relax.”
To ensure the room would best serve its intended audience, the team spoke with other students across campus.
"We interviewed people that were affected by invisible disabilities ... a lot of them provided helpful tips about what would be useful to have in the room," noted Dunham.
By interviewing people who actually struggle with invisible disabilities, Dunham and her team were able to get these individuals’ perspectives and invest in resources that will truly be helpful to them.
The team also used observations of student behavior to guide ideas for resources.
Gruia (freshman, psychology) said, “I think that the fidget toys will be the most utilized object in the space because people have really enjoyed using our departmental fidget toys we have; so I’m sure they’ll love them in the room.”
After developing their proposal, the team presented it to professors and staff, who enthusiastically supported the initiative by providing a service learning fund, which is specifically designated for student-led projects. This financial support was a crucial step for the students to bring their idea to life.
Through their thoughtful planning and dedicated hard work, Dunham, Gruia and Castelo have provided Andrews University students, particularly those with invisible disabilities, a new space to calm down and unwind. In addition to creating a new space, the project aims to raise awareness about invisible disabilities and combat misconceptions surrounding them.
Dunham emphasized, “I wanted to provide information because there is a lot of stigma around invisible disabilities ... some people don't think they exist, and we wanted to point out that they do exist and it is important to be aware of that in order to help those people.”
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.