Sensory Wellbeing Hub: The Efficacy of a Sensory Room for Diverse Learners with Developmental Disabilities

Giyoung Park (HKS Architects)
Upali Nanda (HKS Architects)
Lisa Adams (HKS Architects)
Jonathan Essary (HKS Architects)
Melissa Hoelting (HKS Architects)

People with developmental disabilities process sensory stimuli in unique ways. School environments have a great degree of sensory stimulation, which can greatly impact diverse learners' classroom experience, particularly for those with autism spectrum disorders. The purpose of this research project is to test the efficacy of a sensory wellbeing hub installed at a public high school in Chicago during 2017 for students with developmental disabilities. The design and methods used in this study build off of previous research, which is limited in consideration of long-term effects and of the physical design itself. In addition, the hub is flexible for future adaptations such as replacing damaged or underutilized sensory interventions. The hub is a free-standing, room-in-a-room solution that facilitates a wide range of artifacts to select depending on a student’s sensory needs at a given time. For example, a beanbag with a weighted blanket affords deep-touch sensations whereas small bags filled with grain provide haptic and acoustic properties.

This study used surveys, field observations, focus groups, student records, environmental data, and physical movement data. The hub is outfitted with three separate networks of sensors that unobtrusively track outcomes in real-time, thus converting the hub into a living laboratory. The sensor networks allowed for testing the ability to virtually monitor and digitally capture occupancy and usage and the environmental conditions. Students and staff reported that the hub was used for both therapeutic and preventive purposes. A beanbag with a weighted blanket and a semi-enclosed structure, named the cocoon, with a media wall received most positive feedback and were most used among the hub features. Students’ wellbeingin school marginally improved, and students with autism reported higher emotional wellbeing the academic year after the intervention. This presentation will include design implications for future projects, and lessons learned for measuring behavior with sensor data. Housing and Neighborhood Environment and