By Beth Kitchen in Visual — Sep 26, 2024

Visual Processing Environmental Adjustments

Creating a visual sensory friendly environment, is one of the easiest adjustments we can make.
Creating a sensory-friendly classroom involves designing a space that accommodates the diverse sensory needs of all students. Here's a guide to creating a visual sense sensory-friendly classroom:

Understanding Sensory Needs: Recognise that each student may have different sensory needs. Some may be hypersensitive to visual stimuli, while others may seek out visual input.
Flexible Seating Arrangements and desk dividers: Allow for flexible seating arrangements to accommodate different sensory preferences. Use of desk dividers can reduce the amount of visual information from the classroom environment and organise stationary.
Reduce Visual Clutter: Minimise visual clutter in the classroom by keeping walls, bulletin boards, and displays clean and organised. Remove unnecessary decorations or distracting materials that may overwhelm students with sensory sensitivities.
Use Calming Colors: Choose calming and neutral colors for the walls and furniture to create a soothing environment. Soft blues, greens, and earth tones are often preferred, as they can help reduce visual overstimulation. Use of natural materials on display boards and reducing colour on titles and backing.
Adjust Lighting: Ensure that lighting is adjustable to accommodate students who are sensitive to bright or fluorescent lights. Use natural light whenever possible and consider adding LED strip lights or lower lighting.
Visual Schedules and Supports: Implement visual schedules and routines to provide predictability and structure for students. Be cautious with the amount of pictures, colours on picture, words and lamination- pictures should be minimal, paper should be coloured, and lamination should be matt not gloss.
Minimise worksheet and SmartBoard information: Reduce information on worksheets, either by cutting them up or boxing the information. Reduce images and colours. Use of coloured/recycled paper or use of reading overlays to reduce the amount of white. When using SmartBoards- reduce information, movement (bullet points whizzing in) and use a board overlay or change the colour of PowerPoint presentations backgrounds to a pastel colour.
Be mindful of clothing and accessories: Reduce patterns and colours on clothing and try to aim to wear more neutral clothing. Lanyards should be plain and neutral as well.
Dark Spaces and equipment: Designate darker areas or sensory corners where students can retreat to when feeling overwhelmed. Use of sunglasses or anti-glare glasses for pupils.
Promote Student Input: Encourage students to provide input on classroom design and sensory accommodations. Foster a supportive environment where students feel comfortable expressing their needs and preferences.
Regular Evaluation and Adjustment: Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of sensory accommodations and make adjustments as needed based on feedback from students, parents, and staff. Flexibility and responsiveness are key to creating a truly inclusive and sensory-friendly classroom environment.