New sensory room for neurodivergent students opens in Cabell Library
The new sensory room in James Branch Cabell Library aims to serve neurodivergent students. Photo by Cameron Powell.
Bryer Haywood, Contributing Writer
A new sensory room for neurodivergent students opened in Cabell Library this semester. The room was converted from a storage space and features a variety of tools for students to tailor it to their individual needs.
The room has dimmable lights and multiple kinds of lamps, fidget toys, noise-cancelling headphones, different seating options and a desk, among other features.
The sensory room is located on the second floor of the library and is intended for individual use. Students looking to use the space must have a VCU ID, and contact the Office of Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity to make a reservation.
The VCU Libraries team collaborated heavily with SAEO to ensure students’ needs could be met with the space.
SAEO conducted an anonymous survey among potential users of the room and organized the feedback students gave. Both the VCU Libraries team and SAEO stressed that “student feedback was integral to the creation of the space.”
Laura Gariepy, associate dean for research and learning, said the sensory room is intended to be a “welcoming and supportive space” for all students. The room can be adapted into a high or low sensory experience, and students can use it for studying or brain breaks.
Loftan Hooker, head of access services for VCU Libraries, said there has always been a need for a space like it at VCU. The sensory room is designed to be a “home away from home” for neurodivergent students.
“Everyone’s sensory needs are different,” said Chris Parthemos, associate director of the SAEO. “The sensory room is designed for students to be able to tailor the space to their needs by providing the tools to do so rather than students having to adapt to a space that is not designed for them.”
“Conversations about the sensory room began four years ago with the former director of the SAEO, and construction plans started about two years ago,” Gariepy said.
There is an existing sensory room in the University Student Commons in the SAEO office, but it is only open for limited hours. The Cabell Library sensory room is open during library hours, which range from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. throughout the week.
Feedback from students who have used the sensory room has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Gariepy. She said many students have thanked VCU Libraries and SAEO for creating the space and its accessibility.
“I don’t really have sensory sensitivities but [the sensory room] sounds like an amazing area to have,” fourth-year business student Kiara Artis said.
Student Government Association press secretary Natalie Bowen said many neurodivergent students expressed excitement about the space, but these spaces are beneficial for neurotypical students as well.
“I can definitely see [the sensory room] being beneficial, especially on this campus with it being in the heart of the city,” Essynce Peoples, a second-year business student, said.
