Texas Border Business
LAREDO, Texas – The City of Laredo opened the doors to the first-of-its-kind Sensory Room at the Fasken Recreation Center on Wednesday, June 22. It will provide a space dedicated to sensory experiences designed to help individuals with special healthcare needs feel calm, supported, and focused. A “Sensory Environment” provides areas with education and recreation opportunities, with therapeutic equipment such as weighted products, soft play equipment, bubble tubes, and interactive wall panels.
There are many benefits to a sensory room for those with learning difficulties, developmental disabilities, or sensory processing impairments. This initiative helps them learn to interact with the world around them in a safe environment that builds up their confidence and improves their ability to cope with real-life experiences. Users can develop a wide range of fine and gross motor and speech and language skills through these resources and social interactions. Furthermore, our sensory room will:
- Enhance learning through play – Our Sensory Room was designed with themes including watercolors for visual search and music therapy. Play allows children to develop speech and language skills and listening skills. In addition, children who play with their parents/caregivers and peers learn how relationships work through their play experiences.
- Provide visitors with physical, occupational, speech resources, and therapeutic recreation activities to improve their special healthcare needs. In addition to our program’s resources, we provide families with on-site information on emergency preparedness and sensory regulation items that can follow the participant home.
- Within the Sensory Room is an area called the Calming Sensory Room, the perfect area for individuals who require calming or relaxation at key times during the day. The under the sea theme and equipment: soothing music, sensory cushion, fiber optics, bubble tube, bubble wall, projectors, and more.
This project is a collaboration of Council Member for District 7 Vanessa Perez, the City of Laredo Parks and Leisure Department, the City of Laredo Health Department Family Support & Community Resources, and the Children and Young Adults with Special Healthcare Needs Program.
