The Elberfeld Center for Accessibility Resources offers a space for both neurodiverse and neurotypical students to find peace and regulation between classes.
The Sensory Room and Meditation Room are open to all students, faculty and staff, providing quiet, relaxing spaces for personal well-being. These rooms offer a break from the demands of campus life, allowing individuals to recharge, refocus and practice mindfulness in a peaceful environment.
Both rooms are located in the Elberfeld Center for Accessibility Resources in Peter-Jones 103 and are open during regular campus hours.
The sensory room offers a space for all students, faculty and staff to relax and unwind on campus. From unique seating options to fidget toys and weighted blankets, this room is filled with tools to help you regulate and reset.
This space is perfect for relaxing between classes, studying and so much more.
When you need a few moments of calm on campus, the meditation space is the place to go. With soothing lights and several calming tools at your disposal, this space is designed for individual reflection and relaxation. This room is stocked with coloring books, a zen garden and calming cards to help guide your thoughts while using the space.
In both the sensory room and meditation space, every element has been meticulously selected to serve a specific purpose. These rooms were designed with thoughtfully chosen color schemes, with soft, soothing colors, textured walls, ceiling coverings, and curtain panels that have a calming and grounding effect, providing a sense of security and comfort.
You'll find a diverse array of seating options in these spaces. For instance, our cocoon-like chairs help reduce sensory overstimulation and anxiety. The balance balls and wobble stools encourage vestibular stimulation and provide a soothing effect on our nervous systems. Bean bags create a cozy and inviting space for relaxation, particularly beneficial for individuals seeking tactile comfort or tired college students in need of a nap.
Lighting plays a pivotal role in both spaces. Dimmable and color-changing lights offer flexibility, allowing for a calming or stimulating atmosphere based on individual needs. The nano lights on the wall, fiber optic curtain, and dimmable ceiling lights in both rooms facilitate multi-sensory integration, enhance focus, and empower the occupants.
Additionally, we have incorporated a touchscreen display that is the true centerpiece of our sensory experience. It offers a world of interactive engagement, allowing users to touch, swipe, view and listen to a variety of sensory-rich content.
Our rooms are stocked with equipment designed to cater to a variety of needs. Weighted blankets and lap pads offer deep pressure input, while the textured mats provide a comfortable surface for tactile exploration. Play-Doh, putty, and sand allow for squeezing, stretching, and molding, offering tactile and proprioceptive input. And of course, fidget toys and sensory squishies offer tactile and visual stimulation, aiding in focus and self-regulation.
The overarching goal of these spaces is to foster well-being, relaxation, and sensory enrichment. These are fundamental needs that can benefit people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
The University of Cincinnati Clermont College celebrated the opening and renovation of three dynamic, mostly donor-funded campus spaces Oct .17. Total costs for the improvements were nearly $500,000.