Sensory integration room for children with special educational needs (SEN)

Viva and “Step Forward” Social NGO announce partnership

Using innovative and alternative technologies to serve the needs of society continues to be a key focus of Viva’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. In line with this commitment, a new partnership has been announced. The partner organization is the “Step Forward” social NGO, which began operating as an inclusive summer camp in 2017 and transformed into a social rehabilitation center a year later. The center’s skilled multidisciplinary team has worked to create the necessary conditions for children with disabilities and special educational needs (SEN), but some challenges still remain. With Viva’s support, another important issue will be resolved.

The “Step Forward” social NGO center serves 120 beneficiaries annually. Of these, 100 are children with special educational needs (SEN) or disabilities, and 20 come from socially disadvantaged families. Every second beneficiary has sensory challenges. The center provides multidisciplinary social rehabilitation therapies, and the establishment of a dedicated sensory integration room is considered invaluable. The skilled specialists have found timely and situation-based solutions, creating a sensory-friendly environment within the occupational therapy room. However, it cannot be considered sufficient. The lack of the necessary complex means requires constant relocation of things, resulting in significant time loss and reduced efficiency. The announced partnership aims to solve these problems.

With Viva’s support, international experts have already designed the layout of the sensory integration room. The necessary equipment has been ordered and is being brought to Armenia to create a room equipped with sensory tools and therapeutic solutions. The worn-out room previously used for storage will also be renovated to meet the required standards.

“When we have a room equipped with the necessary tools, it will allow us to significantly change the quality of life of our beneficiaries. We will help them overcome sensory problems in a calmer and more supportive environment, rather than doing it on their own. Each piece of equipment planned for the new room has its own specific and important purpose. These controllable and adjustable devices will allow us to choose the intensity of lighting, vibrations, sound, and tactile stimuli that correspond to the needs of each beneficiary. With Viva’s support, we will have the opportunity to create the room we have envisioned for so years,” said Arpine Ashotyan, President of the “Step Ahead” social NGO.

As a result, users will be able to quickly and independently adjust the environment according to their preferences, using touch or voice commands. With a tablet-based interface, the lighting, sounds and visual elements of the room can be changed in real time. Thanks to interactive sensory controls, the room can transform into an underwater world, space or nature, providing an engaging environment that increases children’s involvement. With the help of new and alternative technologies, including eye-tracking systems (Tobii), it will be possible to select and control devices using only the eyes and without the need for speech. This is an exceptional opportunity for individuals with fine motor and coordination limitations and communication difficulties to express their needs, wished and feelings.