Sensory Integration

Sensory processing plays an essential part in the way we interact with others and the world around us. When examined more closely, this simple truth allows us to understand what we can do to lead healthier, more productive lives. 

At The Deron School we are changing the face of sensory integration for students with special needs. Through teamwork and collaboration, our multi-faceted, tiered approach empowers students to take an active role in their well-being. 

Free access to sensory items for all students, sensory nooks in our classrooms and a state-of-the-art sensory room are just some of the ways we help students understand their individual needs. Using Verbal Behavior Therapy (VBT), students are taught to request the sensory input they need to be at their best.  The final stage in teaching a student to self-regulate is understanding how to transfer this information to functional daily living skills so they are able to reach their greatest level of independence.

The Tiger Lounge

The Tiger Lounge provides students ages 14-21 a place to decompress. This recent addition is the outcome of a collaborative initiative headed by the social workers and the behaviorists at Deron.  The objective of the initiative was to create a “like environment” that our students will encounter once they leave The Deron School. For instance, the lounge could replicate the environment of a work break room or a home family room—either of which serves as a natural, age-appropriate environment for one to self-regulate.

This cool space supports the diverse needs of our teenage students who have sensory challenges as well as those taking a timed or earned break, etc. Though this may simply look like a cool space or a highly reinforcing environment, it has a far more socially relevant context. Students using this space have different needs, drivers and objectives for being there, but their common advantage is that they are exposed to other students that may not be “like them.” This is critical to students as they transition to life after school—they need to learn diversity, tolerance and collaboration so they can learn the social skills needed to successfully coexist with others in society.

Join us at the Alliance Fair at Union College on Saturday, March 23, 2024!
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