University of Cincinnati-Clermont College to create sensory and meditation rooms on campus
A donation from Duke Energy will fund the items needed to furnish a sensory room and a meditation room, meant to provide neurodiverse students a place to regroup between classes and in turn achieve greater academic success.
The University of Cincinnati-Clermont College will open two new rooms this academic year, providing spaces for students with sensory issues to decompress and relax between classes. The new facilities are part of UC Clermont's effort to provide accessibility resources to students with special sensory needs due to autism, ADHD, PTSD, or other sensory sensitivities. In a news release, the university announced that these new spaces will be open to students for the 2021-2022 academic year, thanks to a $10,000 grant from Duke Energy.
Meghann Littrell, director of Accessibility Resources, observed in the release that, "Most commuter students find the library or student lounge great places to relax with friends or study." Litrell then explained that some students need a different type of environment to relax between classes. "The sensory room will support our neurodiverse students by allowing them to utilize coping skills in a safe environment. The meditation/wellness room will provide a quiet, dark area with indirect lighting where students with anxiety, autism, ADHD, post-traumatic stress disorder or sensory challenges can decompress when they are feeling the pressure of a fast-paced environment," Litrell said.
The project to create spaces for neurodiverse students started in 2019 with a $100,000 donation from a private donor. The additional donation from Duke Energy allowed the university to complete the sensory and meditation rooms in time for the upcoming fall semester. As J. Chad Shaffer, Duke government and community relations manager, explained, "The Duke Energy Foundation works to create powerful communities, and we are pleased to make this strategic investment to enable all students with an opportunity to excel. The Accessibility Resources program at UC Clermont advances economic inclusion by helping students with disabilities achieve their academic goals and successfully transition to the workforce. Duke Energy is proud to partner with UC Clermont as a key regional partner educating the next generation of leaders."