Many kids often have problem keeping their attention and preventing themselves from damaging objects. Our solution is to create a sensory space of sorts to keep them from making a mess of their home and keep them occupied with the sensory objects they love.
The need we are trying to solve is creating safe, accessible, and sensory-friendly spaces for two autistic children, Emerson and Lincoln. Each child has different sensory needs, so the room must provide multiple ways for them to regulate their emotions, interact with their environment, and feel comfortable.
For Emerson, the room will be approximately 60 inches by 36 inches and will focus on pressure and swinging motion. The space will include a 3 ft by 2 ft adjustable-height table supported by a locking telescopic pole, along with a chair and floor mats. These features will allow Emerson to participate in activities while having access to calming sensory input. Liquid and rubber mats will also be used to provide different textures and improve safety.
Lincoln’s space will focus on visual colors, an interactive mirror, vibration, spinning motion, and opportunities for safe crashing or slamming into padded surfaces. The design will include a 4 ft by 4 ft sensory wall panel/bracket and a 3 ft by 4 ft adjustable-height table supported by a locking telescopic pole. Three chairs will be available for use at the tables. The living room area will measure approximately 129 inches by 50 inches and will have a floor mat covering the space.
Because some activities may take place outdoors, the sensory equipment should also be weatherproof when possible. Overall, the goal is to create a flexible environment that safely addresses each child’s sensory needs while encouraging play, interaction, and comfort.
Room sizes-Emerson’s room –
Table specs-
Sensory wall-
Floor mats
Weighted pully system (Approx. 0.5 ft width)
Light switch board (Approx. 19X19in)
This was the original concept for the sensory space before we had any input from the guardian of the children, it had a ladder climbing wall, a mini basketball hoop, a toybox with a lock in the corner, and a small climbing bridge that they can wall over. This design was originally 12x12ft before being shrunk to 10×4 ft. We we told wildly different specifications for the in home space before we actually talked with the guardian on specifics. Obviously some the part of this design played more into a dangerous side for the kids, so it was quickly gutted after we were told some no goes for the stuff the children were prone to hurting themselves on.
This Design was a remaster of the original after new information about the specifications about the space came in, specifically the project was split into 2 sections, one for Emerson’s room and one for the living room, both being positive spaces for both children. The space given to use also had shrunk so we chose more space friendly options. The living room now had a wall rather than 12×12 space for sensory devices, this wall comprised of a safety mirror, a multitude of sensory cranks, cogs, and tactile devices alongside a weighted pulley system. The living room had soft floor mats and each room came with a small desk and chair’s for each child. Emerson’s room would have come with a hanging seat as well. This is our first version of the space after given new specifications.
This design is the current most developed version of the design, we removed the hanging seat, combined the desk with the whiteboard, finalized the measurements for the wall, chose new sensory devices for the wall like a lightswitch board, liquid sensory mats, bubble wall mirrors, and light brite-esque peg board.
Magnetic Ball Maze Table with Enclosed Magnetic Dust Tray and Chairs: From an engineering standpoint, this table combines magnetic interaction, fine motor activities, and sensory exploration in a structured, accessible workspace. The magnetic ball maze allows autistic children to guide a ball through a path using magnetic forces, helping develop hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and an understanding of cause-and-effect relationships. The enclosed magnetic dust tray provides a contained sensory activity where children can manipulate magnetic particles to create patterns and observe how magnetic fields influence their movement. The table and chairs provide a stable, comfortable seating arrangement that supports posture, focus, and independent engagement. Together, these features create a controlled sensory environment that encourages exploration, learning, and motor skill development while keeping the activities organized and contained.
This design relies on the new addition of the custom made table with two new interactive modules, these being the a magnetic ball maze and a magnetic dust (iron fillings) case module with external magnets for interactive play, the table also now has adjustable legs to grow with them. We chose this new concept because the original design was just a normal table, and that paved way for opportunity. We also made the new texture board wall interchangeable to add more variety for the kids to play with. The 3rd and final addition/change was the light switch board becoming something we would design and make since the budget called for a cheaper alternative the achieved the same thing6, this version will consist of less switches but have the same function of turning on an internal light when the switch is pressed. This Now the area encompasses the described needs for both children, providing a safe and fun way to engage without being destructive.
From an engineering standpoint, a light switch board provides autistic children with a hands-on way to explore cause-and-effect relationships through simple electrical and mechanical interactions. By pressing switches and observing changes in lights, children can develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, problem-solving abilities, and an understanding of how their actions affect their environment. The predictable feedback can also encourage independent exploration and learning.
A bubble mirror provides visual stimulation by reflecting light and producing changing images as children move around it. Its curved reflective surface encourages children to explore visual distortions, movement, and spatial awareness. From an engineering perspective, the combination of reflective materials, curved geometry, and light interaction creates an engaging sensory experience that can support visual tracking, curiosity, and environmental awareness.
Hard tactile sensory mats use different surface textures, patterns, and material properties to provide varied tactile and physical feedback. From an engineering standpoint, these mats are designed to stimulate the sense of touch and pressure through controlled variations in surface geometry and material hardness. Walking or pressing on the different textures can encourage sensory exploration, balance, coordination, and body awareness while allowing children to experience a range of physical sensations.
Liquid flow sensory mats use sealed compartments filled with liquid that moves when pressure is applied. This design creates dynamic visual and tactile feedback as the liquid shifts in response to a child’s movements. From an engineering perspective, the mats demonstrate fluid motion, pressure distribution, and material deformation in an interactive format. They can encourage visual tracking, cause-and-effect learning, coordination, and sensory exploration while providing a soft, engaging surface for interaction.
