A sensory-friendly classroom may include modifications (or options) such as controlled lighting, a quiet space, or flexible seating, each of which is used to promote a comfortable and welcoming environment for all students. The goal of a sensory-friendly classroom is to reduce sensory overload for students with sensory processing needs and create an inclusive space where all students can thrive in every capacity- this means academically, behaviorally, socially, emotionally, and beyond.
Why Students with Autism Benefit from Sensory-Friendly Classrooms:
All students can benefit from sensory-friendly classrooms but students with autism especially benefit from sensory integration techniques in the classroom. Student with autism often experience sensory processing difficulties, which can impact their ability to participate in classroom activities and regulate their behavior. They are often highly sensitive to specific textures, smells, sounds, or other stimuli. This can pose a challenge to your students and cause them distress. Sensory-friendly classrooms provide a supportive environment that addresses these challenges by minimizing sensory triggers and offering sensory accommodations. This enables students with autism to feel more comfortable, confident, and capable of engaging in the desired learning tasks.
How to Create a Sensory-FRIENDly Classroom
The FRIEND framework can help provide you with a memorable guideline for creating a sensory-friendly classroom. These scenarios provide examples of how you can create a space in your classroom that helps decrease stimuli that may be distressing to your students with autism.
Flexible Seating:
During math lessons, Zaria, a student in your 4th grade class, often squirms in her chair and seems distracted. You notice that she frequently shifts her position and struggles to maintain focus. To address Zaria’s need for movement and sensory input, you introduce flexible seating options in the classroom. You set up a corner with a pink bean bag chair. (Pink is. her favorite color) Now, when Zaria feels restless or needs to move, she can sit in her special bean bag chair while still participating in the lesson.
Yoga mats, beanbag chairs, wobble cushions, standing desks, and rocking chairs are all examples of flexible seating that you can incorporate into your classroom. While flexible seating is suitable for all students, your students with autism who may benefit from specific sensory inputs can utilize it to help them focus.
Regulated Lighting:
Jermaine is a 10th-grade student who often complains of headaches and eye strain during his classes. You spoke with colleagues during a grade-level meeting, and they noted that he does the same thing in their classes as well. He often puts his head on the desk and has even been seen wearing sunglasses in the cafeteria during lunch. You realize he may be sensitive to light. To accommodate Jermaine, you lower the blinds during independent tasks so he is less distracted and able to focus.
Dimmable lights, adjustable lights, adjustable blinds, or variations of warm-to-cool lighting are all examples of regulated lighting. You may find that all students benefit if you change out the bright overhead lights with lighting from a soft lamp, for example, when calmness is needed in the classroom. For your students with autism who may be feeling overstimulated, adjusting the lighting is a simple modification to implement for support.
Individualized Sensory Tools:
Several times in class, you have noticed that Evelyn begins fidgeting and becoming increasingly restless during specific activities. At times, you also see her cover her eyes or put her head down when she feels overwhelmed and overstimulated by the noise and light in the classroom. You provide Evelyn with noise-canceling headphones to help her maintain her focus. But you also provided her with a visual timer. You turn the visual timer on during activities so she understands exactly how much time she has left. The predictability of the timer and the decrease in sensory stimuli by using the noise-canceling headphones are just the tools she needs to succeed in her classroom!
Noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, visual timers, play mats, or tactile toys are all examples of sensory tools that may be useful for specific students in the classroom.
Engaging Sensory Activities and Sensory Stations:
During a 3rd-grade science lesson about the five senses, you incorporate a sensory exploration station into the classroom. At the station, students can explore different textures, smells, and sounds using sensory materials like sandpaper, scented playdough, and musical instruments. Students rotate through the station in small groups, engaging in hands-on activities that stimulate their senses and reinforce the concepts learned in class. This interactive learning experience was especially beneficial for Grace. She was able to actively participate in the same activities as her peers. All of the students had an amazing time rotating through the different stations in the classroom, and they were able to connect with the science concepts because of these experiences.
Sensory bins, play-doh activities, water tables, finger painting, or textured collages are all examples of sensory activities and sensory stations that can engage students in learning.
Noise Management:
Corey struggles to concentrate in a noisy classroom environment. To create a quieter learning environment for him and other noise-sensitive students, you implement noise-reducing strategies in the classroom. You designate a quiet corner with soft cushions and noise-canceling headphones where students can go to work during independent tasks. Additionally, during collaborative learning/small group activities, you remind students to use their inside voices.
White noise machines, quiet time, noise-canceling headphones, soft materials like pillows and drapes to absorb sound, and quiet spaces are all examples of managing noise in your classroom.
Designated Sensory Breaks:
After your students return from their elective classes, you notice the students return to your class pretty restless. It is difficult to get them back on track with their assignments- especially Ricky. To help him and his classmates get back into the rhyme, you design to incorporate a sensory break into the daily schedule. You lead the class in a brief mindfulness activity. You guide students through a series of deep breathing exercises and gentle stretches to help them relax and refocus. You turn on the calming music, and the students learn to re-center themselves before getting back into their assignments. By incorporating regular sensory breaks into the daily schedule, your students are able to recharge and regain focus for the remainder of the day.
A calm-down corner, breathing exercises, guided mindfulness meditations, or movement breaks are all examples of sensory breaks that can help your students with autism.
Creating a sensory-friendly classroom can be a simple way of supporting your students with autism, and the whole class can even benefit from some of the ideas you implement in your classroom! A sensory-friendly classroom promotes a sense of community and comfort- both of which are essential for optimal learning. By embracing sensory diversity and putting a plan in place to help students with sensory issues, you can ensure that all students are able to thrive in your classroom.
