Monroe, LA: Middle school adds "Calming Corner"; "safe place" for a child with autism
- The end of childhood
- 19 hours ago
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April 2, 2025, KNOE, Monroe, LA: Riser Middle School's Calming Corner supports special needs
MONROE, La. (KNOE) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over 5 million people in the United Stated have Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The CDC also reports children with Autism Spectrum Disorder may experience symptoms like avoiding eye contact, have moments of anger over minor changes and see a delay in learning abilities.
To support students with special needs, Riser Middle School created a Calming Corner.
Dawn Ponder, a special education teacher at Riser Middle School, says she created the Calming Corner for children with disabilities, which gives them a safe space to go when they are over-stimulated.
She says, “They don’t like lights, they don’t like loud sounds, they don’t like physical touch and it’s important when a child has Autism to be able to give them a safe space. If a mom didn’t want to send them or couldn’t send them because fighting them to get them in the car or on the school bus was a lot; we get them to school and we can bring them in here and they can get that sensory input because they’re frustrated, or they’re angry or feeling overwhelmed the morning.”
If you have a child with Autism, Ponder says in moments when your child is over-stimulated, you can try soothing them with noise cancelling headphones and sunglasses. She says she hopes the Calming Corner will inspire local schools .
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