New Mexico school district now offers sensory rooms

LOS LUNAS, N.M. — More and more we are seeing sensory-friendly options for those who need it the most, including students at one New Mexico school district.

This school year, each of the 15 Los Lunas Schools has a sensory room. They’re ideal for people with autism or others who are sensitive to a lot of activity.

School leaders, though, say those rooms are for everyone.

“We have a lot of students who have experienced a lot of trauma in their lives. It’s a place where they can come in and self-regulate. It’s also a place where they can have some time to really reflect on what’s really going on in their lives,” said Susan D. Chavez, the chief student services officer at Los Lunas Schools.

Each room is equipped with things students can touch, see and hear.

“Many of them have these bubble tubes that you see. There are light fixtures and many others have flexible seating,” Chavez said. “What is different are the sensory walls. Some are more geared towards secondary students and some towards elementary students.”

These rooms are meant to be used on a daily basis by not only students but staff too.

For students, if they need to take a breather during school, the room gives them that chance – with adult supervision.

Century High School showed us its finished room but the district is still finishing the rooms at the other schools.