June 3, 2019, Altoona (PA) Mirror: School plans sensory classroom—Speciality equipment will help students with autism http://www.altoonamirror.com/uncategorized/2019/06/school-plans-sensory-classroom/ Soon children with autism at Allison Park Elementary School (Houston, PA) will get a specially made sensory classroom and carts filled with sensory toys. Autism Open, a Washington-based nonprofit that raises money for individuals affected by autism, donated roughly $10,000 to create custom carts and a classroom. Courtney Cavanaugh, executive director and one of the founders, said the carts will be filled with fidget toys. The intent is for the items to assist children with staying focused, while making behaviors less disruptive in the classroom. “The carts are basically little stools that the children can put under their desk and wiggle in a circle,” Cavanaugh said. “It allows the kids who normally can’t sit still the opportunity to move while they’re not bothering anyone in the classroom.” The toys inside the cart include balls, clay, putty, sensory gloves, brushes, balls that can be squished and chewing toys that the students can put on top of their erasers. “There will be enough carts for each grade level,” Cavanaugh said. “By allowing these kids the opportunity to fidget at their desk with toys, they have a higher opportunity to stay focused and not disrupt the class.” One of the main reasons the sensory carts were created is so the children can stay inside the regular classrooms and allow the teachers to continue teaching without disruptions. … The sensory classroom will be built over summer and ready for next school year. The classroom will have different items for the children to go to throughout the day such as swings, weighted blankets and other fidget toys. Cavanaugh said this will be able to help students get their energy out when they “need a break” from the regular classroom. Later the student can return to the regular classroom to continue learning throughout the day. … According to Autism Open’s website, the organization has raised close to $260,000 for children and families affected by autism since 2010. Over the nine years, Autism Open has purchased four autism service dogs, several iPads and sensory items like swings, weighted blankets and fidget toys…. The sensory classroom and carts will be ready to use for next school year.
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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.
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
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