Why our sensory rooms at Redbank House are ideal for neurodivergent individuals
Neurodivergent individuals often experience the world in unique and at times overwhelming ways. Everyday environments can present challenges due to sensory processing disorders, making it harder to feel comfortable, focused, or relaxed. That’s why sensory-friendly environments are so important.
At Redbank House, our sensory rooms are intentionally designed to reduce stress and support individual needs. Whether someone is autistic, has ADHD, or lives with another neurodivergent condition, our sensory rooms provide a welcoming environment that helps regulate sensory input and promote wellbeing.
Understanding neurodivergence and sensory-related issues
For many neurodivergent individuals, everyday environments can feel difficult due to sensory-related challenges, common examples of this can be:
- Sensitivity to noise – such as loud conversations, traffic, or alarms
- Discomfort with lighting – especially bright or flickering fluorescent lights
- Aversion to certain textures – in clothing, furniture, or food
- Difficulty filtering background stimuli – making it hard to focus
- Overwhelm in crowded or chaotic environments
- A need for movement or deep pressure input – to feel calm and grounded
It’s important to be aware that these experiences are not simply preferences, they are
neurological responses that can affect mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
That’s why creating sensory-friendly environments is so important for inclusion,
comfort, and support.
How do our sensory rooms support neurodivergent needs?
Our sensory rooms have been specially designed by our professional Occupational Therapist team at Adapt and Live for autistic individuals, those with ADHD, and people with complex disabilities. Each element is crafted to provide calming or stimulating sensory input, depending on the individual’s needs, making the room highly adaptable to a wide range of sensory needs.
Visual stimulation
This involves lighting, movement, or colours that stimulate the visual system. In a
sensory-friendly setting, it’s designed to be gentle, predictable, and adjustable to avoid
overwhelming those with visual sensitivities. Visual stimulation can help with focus,
relaxation, or engagement, especially for those who benefit from visual input to regulate
their mood or attention.
Our sensory room provides a variety of customisable lighting and dynamic visual
elements. Here are some examples of what we provide and how they benefit our
sensory room users:
- Fibre-optic strands that flash with soft, changing colours
This helps with visual sensory stimulation in a controlled, calming way,
supporting individuals who benefit from gentle light input. - Bubble tubes glowing with blue and green lights
Creates calming movement and colour patterns that can reduce anxiety. - Disco ball that creates sparkling reflections
Offers engaging visual stimulation in a predictable pattern, helping with focus
and visual tracking. - Mirrored walls for self-exploration and interaction
Supports body awareness and visual feedback, which can be beneficial for
individuals working on motor skills or social interaction
Tactile, movement, and body awareness stimulation
This refers to anything that stimulates the sense of touch. In sensory rooms, tactile
elements help individuals explore different textures and surfaces, which can be calming
or engaging depending on the need. Tactile stimulation is helpful for individuals who are
either tactile seeking (they crave touch) or need help desensitising to certain touch
sensations in a safe, controlled way.
Our tactile and movement-based features include:
- Water beds
Provide deep pressure and gentle motion that calm the nervous system. - Wall projections
Stimulate the senses through slow, calming visual changes. - Soft and textured walls, matts and cushions
Offer varied tactile experiences to soothe or engage.
Auditory stimulation
We offer adaptable sound environments tailored to the individual’s sensory needs.
- Optional pop music
For sensory-seeking users, lively music creates a playful, energising experience. - Custom playlists
We can play your own music selections to provide familiar, comforting sounds. - Quiet space option
For those who are sound-sensitive, this can also be a quiet space free from
unpredictable audio stimuli found in many public settings.
A safe space for emotional regulation
At Redbank House, our sensory rooms are intentionally designed to support emotional
regulation. A key need for many neurodivergent individuals who experience sensory
processing differences. These rooms offer a calm, controlled environment where users can safely explore, unwind, and reset at their own pace.
In short, our sensory rooms go beyond just being fun or therapeutic. We offer a crucial
space for emotional balance, helping users feel calm, supported, and in control. We
aim to create a safe space for emotional regulation by offering predictable, controlled
and flexible environment for individual needs with the intention of giving users a sense
of control and autonomy.
Accessible design and mobility features
Our sensory room features a ceiling-mounted, trackable overhead hoist, allowing individuals with limited mobility to access and enjoy the space safely and comfortably. This inclusive feature ensures that everyone, regardless of physical ability, can fully engage with the sensory equipment and experience the therapeutic benefits of the room.
Please note: not all rooms have a hoist, so we recommend contacting us in advance to ensure availability.
