Sensory room lets deaf pupils ‘hear’ own voices
CHILDREN with sensory impairments are benefiting from cutting-edge equipment.
Parents and supporters have raised £32,000 for a state-of-the-art sensory room at Hazelwood School.
And deaf pupils are being helped to “hear” their voices for the first time thanks to the new technology.
Vincent Ferguson, depute head teacher, said the new room is having a huge impact on his pupils.
Mr Ferguson said: “In the original design for Hazelwood there was a sensory room put in place but it wasn’t really suitable and as time has gone on the needs of the pupils have really changed and developed.
“We wanted a room that was flexible and adaptable, and that’s what we have now.”
The sensory room has been created in a former office – completely transforming the space for the school’s 56 pupils.
The room can be controlled from an iPad, meaning youngsters can choose the sounds and colours they want.
There are large speakers that can be connected to a vibroplate, meaning deaf pupils can sit on the plate and hear the vibrations of their own voices.
Mr Ferguson added: “It is really special to see our pupils with hearing impairments, who have never heard their own voices, feel the vibrations. You see their whole face light up.”
Hazelwood Vision, the charity supporting the Bellahouston school, has been hard at work for two years holding quiz nights, raffles, dress up days and cakes sales, among others.
Pupils from the school’s enterprise group also planned a coffee morning, with backing from Starbucks.
Mr Ferguson added: “For our pupils, their hearing, visual and learning difficulty can limit how they access the simplest things.
“We can use the resources in our sensory room to help them find their voice, make choices and build up skills which they can then confidently apply in the wider world.
“I cannot stress the importance of the sensory room for our pupils.”