Sept 7, 2018, Brownsville (IL) Herald: Sensory rooms bring smiles to special needs students https://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/education/sensory-rooms-bring-smiles-to-special-needs-students/article_86392cee-b2dd-11e8-bbeb-c39497ac625b.html “We are the first school district in the area to implement district-wide sensory rooms at all campuses that serve students with autism, developmental delays, and behavioral disorders in specialized classrooms,” said Griselda Wells, Los Fresnos CISD Director of Special Services. “Special education teachers are very excited to start using the sensory rooms to help their students learn self-regulation skills that will help them in the school, home and community settings.” The updated sensory curriculum provides a means of understanding, developing awareness and making sense of their surroundings. It seems to help children improve, use and integrate their visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, olfactory and kinesthetic awareness and skills. Classrooms have been modified to accommodate the new activities that are intended to enhance academic, behavioral, and motor skills…. Auditory activities include interactive bubble tubes, music and drums. Special education teachers and staff will supervise all sensory rooms.
Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.