Sensory Rooms — Facilitating Neurodivergent- Friendly Workplaces

Before we get into the details of sensory rooms, it helps if we understand why sensory rooms were invented in the first place.

Children in the autistic spectrum have often been described as engaging in repetitive actions, such as hand flapping, hair twirling and skin picking, often referred to as “stims”. For a long time, the reasons for this behavior were unclear and frowned upon. As a result, caregivers and clinicians sought to prevent this behavior. Now though, the benefits of stimming are known and more accepted among professionals.

To facilitate the beneficial side of stimming, schools and care centers have begun to create sensory rooms to help kids of all neurotypes express their sensory needs safely, without judgment and/or harming themselves.

What is Stimming?

What is stimming? According to Medical News Today, stimming is a “…self-stimulatory behavior that normally involves repetitive body movements or repetitive movement of objects.”

Researchers associate stimming with conditions such as autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder. Still, the fact is that people outside of these groups stim as well. How so? Nail biting, knee bouncing, clicking your pen, twirling your hair, or chewing your pencil — all these are…