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BOARDMAN -- Boardman Center Intermediate School is creating a sensory room to help meet the physical and social/emotional needs of students.
Meridian HealthCare is partnering with the school to sponsor the $20,000 project, and also expand the project's reach not only to include special-needs students, but to create a safe space for all students who may struggle with behavioral or mental health issues.
Sensory rooms traditionally are a therapeutic place with a variety of equipment that provides special-needs students with personalized sensory input. The goal is to help these children calm and focus themselves and gain balance and motor skills. This promotes self-organization and positive change while also providing a safe space for students.
"We are so honored to be working with Larry Moliterno and the staff at Meridian. They truly understand the importance of the sensory room and the various needs of our students -- especially during these times of COVID-19," said Boardman Center Intermediate counselor Kendra Baltes.
Center Principal Randy Ebie and Baltes approached Meridian Healthcare CEO Moliterno to partner on the project. During a recent out-of-town trip, Moliterno visited a sensory room focused on mental health support.
"Much of the physical work is being done by our maintenance staff and by volunteers. We emptied a huge storage room, cleared out shelves, built walls, and painted to prepare for all the equipment." said Ebie. "The goal is to have everything in place by Jan. 25 for the start of the second semester."
One piece is the bubble wall called "Double Bubble Bonanza" that will be in the middle of the new sensory room. This features bubble tubes and wall panels, with bubbles and color that can be individually controlled in each of the two chambers. These, plus sound effects and music, create a multi-sensory experience.
Moliterno said he is excited to bring mental health concepts to school sensory rooms in the Mahoning Valley.
"Offering a safe place where students can go to process their emotions and feelings is very important, especially in today's day and age," he said. "We are proud we can partner with Boardman schools on this project and offer this to the students in our community."
The Boardman Center Intermediate Sensory Room is the first project funded by Meridian's new Power of Care Foundation. The foundation will provide nonprofit organizations financial support to offer supportive services to assist individuals with their mental, physical, and emotional needs in a way that is person-centered and respects the dignity of each individual.
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