What is a "Roxy Room?"
A Roxy Room is a sensory space for individuals with sensory processing disorder and other behavioral/emotional difficulties.
It is designed to be used in a proactive manner in order to help individuals develop coping skills and learn to self-regulate the brain's response to stimuli, thus helping regulate emotions. This can be extremely beneficial in many different settings.
The human brain is designed to regulate how we react to sensory inputs — everything we hear, see, smell, taste and touch. This link between the brain and our behavior is called “sensory integration.” For most people, this is an unconscious part of the daily experience. But for an individual with a developmental disorder, such as autism or a sensory processing disorder, the way the brain processes these experiences can be a source of distress and discomfort.
While many people are familiar with the use of sensory rooms for those with autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome, they are also beneficial for individuals with anxiety and sensory issues. Time in a sensory room helps improve visual, auditory and tactile processing, as well as fine and gross motor skills.
Sensory processing disorder can cause a variety of behaviors, such as meltdowns, fighting, spinning, rocking or hand-flapping, as well as problems with information processing and cognitive and physical development. This can be very overwhelming for students, which is why sensory rooms can be especially beneficial for behavioral difficulties within the school setting. Sensory rooms are pivotal components in helping children and people with disabilities experience the pleasure of play, find comfort and improve their sensory processing skills.