An Innovative Leap for Sensory Integration

Within the confines of the College of Education and Health Professions' Speech and Hearing Clinic, a transformative space emerges: the Schmieding Foundation Sensory Room. This newly inaugurated sensory haven is set to reshape the landscape for healthcare professionals, eager students, and families across Arkansas, all thanks to the benevolent gift from the Schmieding Foundation. This facility stands as a testament to a vision realized. Over a year of meticulous planning and construction has birthed a state-of-the-art research and training area. Here, budding and established professionals from nursing, communication sciences and disorders, and occupational therapy will find a fertile ground for learning and growth. For the families in Northwest Arkansas grappling with sensory integration challenges, this room extends a lifeline of hope and practical solutions.

The Heart of the Sensory Room

Stepping into the Schmieding Foundation Sensory Room is akin to entering a realm designed to delight and engage the senses. Boasting an array of cutting-edge sensory and observation tools, this room promises to be a pivotal space for assessments, interventions, and hands-on research. It houses bubble tubes, mirrors, fiber optics, and a sensory swing, among others, to create a comprehensive therapeutic environment. According to Michele Kilmer, assistant professor of nursing and founder of the Access for Autism program, this sensory room is a goldmine for advancing understanding in sensory processing. She emphasizes its versatility, noting that the room is adaptable for all age groups and can be tailored to meet individualized therapeutic needs. Kilmer elaborates, "We are thrilled to offer caregivers the chance to gain practical, hands-on experience. Learning and applying sensory strategies in a controlled space like this amplifies the benefits of therapy and offers a foundational enhancement to the care provided by our faculty and researchers." Consistent exposure to sensory rooms equips children with essential skills to improve sensory processing, fostering self-regulation and focus. Often, families encounter lengthy waitlists to access trained professionals, making this room an invaluable community resource.

A Synergistic Educational Partnership

The Schmieding Foundation Sensory Room exemplifies the power of collaboration within the College of Education and Health Professions. By bridging the nursing, occupational therapy, and communication sciences and disorders programs, it brings together hundreds of graduate students who will directly benefit from this immersive training environment each year. Faculty members also envision the development of training videos aimed at broadening the scope of impact. These videos would serve as invaluable resources for students and professionals working with children and teens with sensory integration needs, extending the benefits well beyond the confines of the sensory room itself.

A Generous Gift Laying the Foundation

In May 2023, the Schmieding Foundation bestowed a significant grant of $100,000. This generous donation facilitated the establishment of the sensory room and the acquisition of specialized equipment designed to enrich student training and support pioneering research. During the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, Dean Kate Mamiseishvili joined Schmieding Foundation president Lance Taylor and Fran Hagstrom, head of the Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy department, to inaugurate the sensory room. The event marked a celebratory moment for all involved, highlighting the meaningful partnership between the University of Arkansas and the Schmieding Foundation. Lance Taylor, echoing the sentiments of hope and progress, stated, "We are pleased to partner once again with the University of Arkansas to create the Schmieding Foundation Sensory Room. This Sensory Room should help students in the College of Education and Health Professions gain additional experience and also help children throughout Northwest Arkansas by providing an expansion in evaluation and therapeutic services." With the summer on the horizon, the new Schmieding Foundation Sensory Room will swing into full operation. Faculty and graduate students are already undergoing training, ready to harness the room's full potential and make meaningful strides in the world of sensory integration. For any parent, caregiver, or professional invested in the well-being of children with sensory integration challenges, the Schmieding Foundation Sensory Room stands as a beacon of promise. It symbolizes a future where specialized training, advanced research, and compassionate care converge to create pathways of hope. In every bubble tube's shimmer and every sensory swing's gentle sway lies the potential to understand, support, and transform lives for the better.