The Sensory Room: Helping Students With Autism Focus and Learn

Imagine a safe space where students with autism can go to calm their bodies and then get back to the business of learning.

May 3, 2017

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This is part of our Schools That Work series and features key practices from Meriden Public Schools in Connecticut. See how the district redesigned its special education services.

Interested in learning how to create your own sensory room? Check out Sensory Room 101.

Schools That Work

Meriden Public Schools

Public, Urban

Grades K-12

Meriden, CT

Meriden Public Schools, in Connecticut, is a small urban district dedicated to collaboration and innovation. Examples of innovation abound: Classroom learning has shifted from teacher-directed to student-centered. The peer-to-peer tech buddies program—in which older students teach younger ones how to use apps and digital devices—empowers kids and builds relationships. And the commitment to developing in-district resources to serve special education students led to the creation of a unique sensory room at one of the elementary schools.

In 2016, Meriden Public Schools outperformed the state growth rate on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium by 3% in math and 1% in ELA.
Across the district, suspensions are down 86% and expulsions are down 95% since 2011.
Recognized as a District of Distinction in 2016 by District Administration and received the Magna Award in 2016 from the National School Board Association.