Sept 22, 2018, Wytheville, VA, Southwest Virginia Today: Sensory spaces give students a place to reset https://www.swvatoday.com/news/floyd/article_19706c3a-bda0-11e8-a2e3-87ffc7da4b08.html
The sensory space at Floyd Elementary School is a transformation of part of the former library space at the school into a tranquil environment that not only appeals to students but also others, including teachers.Its goal is to provide a space for students who get overstimulated in a large environment with others, explained Melissa McDaniel, Director of Special Education and Student Services. Students with autism or other sensory issues are among those who benefit, but McDaniel said “there are a lot of disabilities where students can get overstimulated by noise and activity.”…
Vickers said students who use the sensory spaces are different when they leave. “They walk back out and you can tell they’re a calmer kid.”
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f2d0ce_e4b613474cc34affbe44042a6193f548~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_350,h_263,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_auto/f2d0ce_e4b613474cc34affbe44042a6193f548~mv2.jpg)
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.
Loss of Brain Trust features over 9,000 news stories published worldwide since January, 2017