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Brook Avenue highlights neurodiversity month with sensory rooms, AAC devices and faculty 'reciprocity'
Summary
Brook Avenue presenters described a neurodiversity month that paired special-education staff with general-education colleagues for faculty visitations, and student stations that exposed peers to AAC devices and sensory tools; presenters said the activities increased inclusion, peer interactions and staff skills.
Brook Avenue staff told the Bay Shore Board of Education they used neurodiversity awareness month to shift from inclusion to integration by creating reciprocal learning opportunities between special-education teams and general-education staff and students.
"One of the things we talk about a lot at Brook is turning inward," a Brook Avenue administrator said, describing faculty meetings where speech, behavior and occupational therapy staff invited colleagues to observe specialized instruction and tools. Presenters described demonstration stations, staff visitations and student activities designed to demystify augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and sensory tools.
Speech-language pathologist Laura Russo said staff removed nonessential apps from iPads used as communication devices so they function as dedicated tools. She described structured student activities that let peers operate AAC devices to complete tasks and to participate in morning announcements, which presenters said led to immediate changes in hallway interactions.
Occupational therapist Karen Martella described opening a sensory room to teachers at a faculty meeting so staff could experience specialized equipment firsthand: "A weighted blanket, not only does it help a student that might feel dysregulated, it also may calm you at bedtime." Behavior specialists and teachers said the approach allowed strategies used in special education to be applied across general-education classrooms.
Presenters asked the board to continue supporting such cross-disciplinary work; board members praised the demonstration as evidence of a culture shift and encouraged replication across other district buildings.
