Date of Award

4-2024

Degree Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Kim Sharpe

Second Advisor

Holly Grieves

Abstract

Everyone has a unique sensory system that continues to change and adapt throughout their lifespan. In an 8-hour school day, children take in so much information with very little consideration of how their sensory systems may be reacting in response to varying environments and social situations. The gap within the school system remains to be seen as a lack of understanding of sensory systems and how they affect children’s learning capabilities. The objective throughout my capstone experience was to support Greyhound Intermediate School by creating a sensory room for both special education and general education students. This was done by educating staff on the purpose and use of the sensory room equipment and implementing a school-wide Zones of Regulation curriculum. Data was collected in the final two weeks after the sensory room was complete and the staff members had been educated and trained. The data included which children utilized the room, who accompanied the children, how much time was spent in the room, what equipment was used, and the children’s zone entering and exiting the room. The overall outcome was that children exited the room in a more regulated state than when entering.

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