Exploring the senses
Winget Park creates a colorful classroom
Student Noah Lavergne smiled when he walked into Winget Park Elementary’s new multisensory room. Joined by his peers, he moved from corner to corner
exploring the colorfully lit cubes, lava lamps and cascade of lighted fiber-optic strands. Soothing music played in the background and an aroma of lavender
lingered in the air.
The classroom, which has resources obtained through grants and
donations, is now available to two autistic classes, a total of 15 students.
Other things to help the students include a ball pit, small trampoline,
beanbags, crawling tunnels and other sensory equipment.
Many students with autism have difficulty processing everyday sensory
information and may have difficulty communicating with and relating to
others. The room will be used to enhance their learning and coping skills by
encouraging social interactions, communication and focus. Students will have
scheduled 15-minute sessions in the multisensory room and will be monitored
by their teachers.
“We had a small room before but it only fit up to four students at a
time,” said Kylie McKinney, who teaches Exceptional Children in kindergarten
through second grade.
Principal Jason Bissinger said when Palisades Park Elementary opened,
space at Winget Park became available. McKinney and Lauren Stefaniak,
the Exceptional Children teacher for grades three through five, immediately
applied for grants from the Autism Society-Mecklenburg Chapter and created
a DonorsChoose project to outfit it. They also asked parents for support.
“Our parents have been the backbone of this project,” said Stefaniak.
Parents Cheryl and Gus Aguero provided equipment, painted the room,
hung lights, bought and laid carpet.
“We