Nova Iguaçu implements sensory rooms for neurodivergent students

The municipal school system in Nova Iguaçu, Brazil, has implemented sensory rooms to support neurodivergent students. These specialized spaces are designed to assist students with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

Located at schools like E. M. Monteiro Lobato, the rooms serve as pedagogical support hubs. They are equipped with resources including mirrors, steps, ribbons, various textures, specialized lighting, music, and interactive boards. These tools are used by specialized professionals to stimulate physical perception, motor coordination, balance, touch, vision, and hearing.

The rooms provide a space for students to manage sensory overload and reorganize themselves before returning to a standard classroom setting, or to work on specific developmental skills like movement and coordination.