Teach the Zones of Regulation

I found this strategy is very effective.  The Zones of Regulation was used during my son's speech and social skill sessions. Each zone presents the emotions in color.

I used it at home.  When my son was in certain feeling or emotion stage, I pointed the right emotion image and talked to him. Since he did not have language when he was little, I liked to use this chart. It was easy to use, I did not need to have a lot of words to explain. It is visual and easy to use. I had this Zones poster and I put it in our living room which is the center of family activities.

Have a Sensory Toolkit

Having a sensory toolkit handy is a basic requirement. It helps them to calm down. Your occupational therapy should recommend you the list of sensory toolkit that you can use at home. Sensory tools can be a weighted lap pad, jacket, fidget toys, noise-canceling headphone. It helps them when they are overwhelm. 

Create a Sensory Interior Design Space/Environment in your own home

Have you ever think to create an area where your children are in their comfort zone, their "ZEN" place, their quiet room... As an adult and a mom, I need a "quiet place" for my own benefit. It is a place where I can cool me down from busy activities and also a place where I can relax, be myself and "cool down". Either a corner reading area or a nice "calming interior" in my laundry room where I can just listen to the sound, relax and blocked myself from others' interruption. Yup... it is kind of silly, but I called my laundry room is my therapy room... 😊

Let me tell you a story; in 2002 right after I finished college for my interior design study in United States, I did a pro-bono project doing a school for special need children school in Palo Alto, it is called Achievekids. 

The room that I designed with another interior designers was a high school classroom for autistic students. The teacher told us that the renovation for the classroom really changed their students life. They became more focus, eager to study and happy in the classroom. We had only 3 choices of color paints and we chose the blue color for the background behind the blackboard. The blue color made the them focus and calm at the same time. The wall border pattern that I designed make the room more alive. It also brighten the "rigid" classroom setting.

It was the moment that I realized that applying interior design with sensory approach was indeed powerful. It was not only aesthetic, it also made a great impact for the mood and well being of the occupants of the class room. The layout of the class room was clear enough for the students to understand where to go. They knew where are the zoning for private or common area.

I did another commercial project where I designed a floor design with pattern and calm color for multipurpose room for a disability center in Fremont. The children were happy in the area. I did the sensory interior design approach for this multipurpose room since the area was huge and had multiple functions. The area was used for playing, training/education and dining area as well. The children also did recital/performance and practiced and played badminton in that area as well. Considering those factors, I used the dark color to create contrast and also make the place become more intimate, since it has a high ceiling and bright wall color.

In 2003, I also created a sensory interior design space in my own home as well. It was my research project for the sensory issues related to interior finishes. This project was the most rewarding and eye opening moment for me as a mom and as an interior designer. I noticed that my son was happy doing his therapeutic running around my living room where he exposed his foot with certain texture of the special floor rug that I chose for that living room/play area. Not only he was happy doing that, I also save my time for not brushing his foot all the times.

I highly recommend for the family with children with autism to create a space/area where they can address their sensory seeking behavior. Either a play area, bedroom, study room or even create a corner to create a comfort zone, so they can to find their "Zen" space/room. Not only it will make them happier, focus and grounded, it will make you and your family happy as well. 

Addressing their sensory seeking behavior and issues is a smart way to make the children calmer, focus and grounded.  Not only you save a head ache of going outside and dealing with tantrum that is occasionally happen, you also give them 24 hours exposure and chance for them to self-regulate. Once the children are calm at home, it is easier for the parents to manage another approach, therapy or treatment. You will prioritize their basic need first, i.e. addressing their sensory seeking behavior and making your children with autism more grounded, calm and focus. Your children with autism deserve a good quality of life and so you do too. 

With Love and Gratitude,

Florencia Djoe

Sensory Interior Designer