Author ORCID Identifier
0009-0002-8262-3318
Document Type
Capstone
Publication Date
2026
Keywords
sensory room, school-based occupational therapy, sensory processing, sensory integration, teacher education, professional development, occupational therapy, sensory-based interventions
Department
<--Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences-->
Abstract
Sensory rooms are commonly used within school settings to support students' self-regulation, behavior, and participation in educational activities. However, evidence suggests that special education teachers and teacher aides often receive limited training on the appropriate use of sensory rooms, including identifying students who may benefit and selecting activities based on individual sensory needs. The purpose of this mixed-methods, pre-experimental capstone project was to develop, implement, and evaluate a school-based sensory room education program for special education teachers and teacher aides at Deposit Central School District. Guided by Ayres Sensory Integration® and Adult Learning Theory, the project included a needs assessment, development of an educational module, creation of visual support tools and a sensory room procedures manual, and implementation of a one-hour educational training session. Data collection consisted of pre- and post-training perceived competency surveys and observations conducted before and after the intervention. Two teacher aides completed both phases of the study. Participants demonstrated improvements in overall perceived competency, with the greatest increases observed in equipment setup and removal, understanding sensory processing, and activity selection. Participants also reported that the education program addressed a gap in the limited training they had received upon hire. Although the small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings, this project demonstrates the potential value of occupational therapist-led education programs to improve staff confidence, promote consistent sensory room implementation, and enhance interdisciplinary collaboration within school settings. The educational materials developed through this project may provide a sustainable resource for future staff training and may be adapted for use in other school districts with similar needs.
Recommended Citation
Stiles, Makenzie; Fischer-Camara, Bonnie; Ostrander, Tracie; Young, Elizabeth; Theodorou, Sophia; and Schneider, Jacie, "School-Based Sensory Room Education Program: An Occupational Therapy Approach" (2026). Occupational Therapy Student Scholarship. 7.
https://orb.binghamton.edu/occupational_therapy_students/7
