Jordan Nelson, a certified occupational therapy assistant with Lexington-Richland School District Five, helped secure a $30,000 grant from Leo’s Pride Foundation for a district elementary school to create a sensory room.

“I just want to thank Leo and his family for this opportunity to have a fully funded sensory room at Lake Murray Elementary School,” Nelson said in a press release. “It’s going to mean so much to our kids and to our staff and I am so grateful for the support that the Leo’s Pride Foundation has provided. I know that it will be an inclusive space for years to come!”

Sensory rooms are designed to help individuals manage stress and depression, practice self-regulation, assist with overstimulation, develop body awareness, learn coping mechanisms, reduce repetitive behaviors, lower aggression, enhance focus, increase interaction and improve inclusion and social skills.

“Our sensory room will give kids a space where they can go and have their needs met and be regulated throughout the day to better access their education,” Nelson said. “We will also be educating parents and teachers on what sensory regulation looks like and how we can use these tools at a school level to get kids emotionally where they need to be.”

A study conducted by Grand Valley State University in 2020 found that, on average, 56% of students became more engaged in classroom activities after participating in sensory room interventions.

Leo’s Pride Foundation was created by the Bugenske family after their son, Leo, was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). The foundation promotes inclusion and works to ensure that children and adults of all abilities can play together.

“Leo’s Pride Foundation has two guiding principles in how we hope to impact our community: Build an Inclusive Community & Love Every One,” Adam Bugenske, Leo’s father and co-founder of the foundation, stated. “Jordan’s heart for her students and vision for creating a space that meets the unique needs of the exceptional students at LMES aligns perfectly. It is our honor to fully fund this project through a grant made possible by the love and financial contributions of this community.”

To learn more about Leo’s Pride Foundation, visit https://www.leospride.org/.