Building Accessible Sanctuaries with Sensory Tools

Discover the hidden power of sensory bags in our latest episode, where I, Tracie Corll, guide you through the creation and impact of these remarkable tools for individuals with disabilities in our spiritual communities. Imagine a space where everyone, regardless of ability, can find solace and connection. We'll explore how items like fidget tools and noise-canceling headphones can offer comfort to those with ADHD or anxiety, creating a church experience that's engaging and accessible. Learn the secrets to selecting the perfect blend of items that assist without distraction, and how these carefully curated bags can be customized to meet unique needs without stretching your budget.

Venture with us into the world of sensory room inclusion strategies, as we discuss building a truly inclusive ministry that honors every person's gifts. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of how sensory bags not only provide necessary stimulation but also act as a haven for those who might feel overwhelmed. I'll share practical advice for making these sensory solutions a staple in your community, ensuring that our places of worship are beacons of Christ's love—welcoming, uplifting, and empowering families and individuals of all abilities. Join me in celebrating the journey towards an inclusive ministry and the joy of seeing each person thrive in their faith.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:03

Hi, my name is Tracy Corle and welcome to Indispensable People. I'm a wife, mom, teacher, pastor and missionary, and I believe that every person should have the opportunity to know Christ, grow in Him and serve Him with the gifts that he has given, no matter their ability. Over 65 million Americans have a disability. That's 25% of the population. However, over 80% of them are not inside the walls of our church. Let's dive into those hard topics biblical foundations, perceptions and world-changing ideas. Hey, hey, welcome to episode 29 of Indispensable People, and we are going to be talking about sensory bags. This is probably going to be a little bit of a short episode, but I wanted to talk with you about this very important and easy to put together tool, also minor in cost, that is really effective in serving people of different types of needs with disabilities in your church or your organization, whatever you are doing a camp, all kinds of things. I've used them in so many different situations. It's made such a big difference.

Speaker 1: 1:30

So let's first start off with defining what a sensory bag is. It is a collection of items that kids, teens or adults can use to stimulate their senses or isolate them and soothe them in distress. So let's look at this from both sides. So step one was that can either stimulate their senses so I'm going to give you an example of a kiddo with ADHD who has very difficult time focusing, sitting still and engaging. This individual may just need something that their body can engage with so that they can focus and listen and learn and participate. So that might mean some fidgets. That could possibly mean something that is in there that helps them to participate in whatever is being taught. So those are our super-duper easy, simple kinds of things. So, again, fidgets that they could play around with during the lesson. Another option is they're like these scarves that you can buy. They've used them in classes for gym, at school or in sensory-type situations, but anyway, some people use them during worship and so you could have the fidgets, that kind of thing.

Speaker 1: 3:01

Here's my warning about fidgets you are going to want to consider fidgets that do not make noise or distract other individuals in the space. That would be my warning about the scarves or anything like that in participation for worship. It is likely to distract. However, there's a couple things that you need to know. It's always important to educate the people in your church as to what and why, what's going on and how it helps others to engage, but also educate the individual that's using the fidget or the scarf so that they aren't using it in an inappropriate way that is distracting someone else. So as time goes by it becomes a normal thing and much less of a distraction.

Speaker 1: 3:55

So, in addition to those kinds of sensory type things you're going towe're going to flip the script and go to the other side, where the definition said to isolate them or to sue them in distress, which means that maybe the situation around them is overwhelming or it's too much sound, too much to see, too much anything. So in there those items could be a pair of sunglasses If the lights feel harsh to their eyes. It could be a pair of noise-canceling headphones that block out some of the sound. So it's not so so very loud, it's a lot softer. It could be a stress ball or something in that arena that helps them to focus their anxiety. It could be a stress on something else. This is by no means an extensive list of what you could or couldn't put in the bag In addition to the things that I mentioned to you a lot of times.

Speaker 1: 5:04

If I know an individual and I know their likes and their dislikes, I can tailor a bag specific to them. You might even want to consider putting little notebooks, something to write with in there, so that they can maybe follow along with the sermon or whatever the Bible lesson is, and maybe draw pictures that go along with it or write words or scriptures that will help them to remember it. In addition to that, you may want to consider putting in a visual schedule. A visual schedule shows pictures of how the service or the event is going to go, so they know what to expect. Kiddos with ADHD, who might become unfocused and not know where you're at. They can refer back to the schedule. But it also would be beneficial for individuals who experience some anxiety because they know what to expect and when it's going to be over.

Speaker 1: 6:06

I will give you an example. We just had a great big event at our church, which is Tim Tebow's foundation, which is a dance which is Night to Shine. At that event we had visual schedules hung up all over the building. We also had the visual schedules in the sensory bags that we provided. One individual struggled with the event the whole night and what we were able to do is to continually bring him back and show him the visual schedule so he knew what was coming after the next thing, and that helped him to get through the night and to know when it was going to be time to go home.

Speaker 1: 6:50

Once you've decided what to put in the sensory bags, your next step is okay. Well, what kind of bag? And where do I locate these bags? For these individuals? Well, I suggest using a drawstring backpack. You can buy them on Amazon or any place that is, and it's very inexpensive. They're easy to clean. It's not even a big deal if you have to throw one away and go to the next one. I think you could buy almost a dozen for less than 20 bucks. That is very, very simple. But also it is not showy, doesn't stick out a whole lot and you don't have to really worry about someone questioning what you have or what you don't have. If you wanted to go even a little bit more fancy, you could get your ministry or your church's name printed on the bags through places like Vista Print or something like that, and that way that you know it kind of identifies the bag and what it's for.

Speaker 1: 7:59

But once you have your bag, your items, where are you going to locate these things? Well, here's a. Here's a few things to consider. If there are certain individuals who use those bags on a regular Basis and maybe they have a bag that is specific to them, you're gonna locate it where they come. So if it's in kids, you might want to put it in the in that, at the check-in desk or in the classroom that they attend. If it's youth, you're going to want to put it in your youth room. If it is specific to adults, maybe you have a welcome center that they could pick that up at. But if they are not designated for any specific place or person, you can. I would suggest some at the welcome center, some at the kids check-in and some in the youth room. That way, if they're needed, they are accessible For anyone to grab them at any point in time.

Speaker 1: 8:56

You might also want to Include them in your sensory room or your quiet room.

Speaker 1: 9:02

If you have a special needs ministry space, you're gonna want to put them in there as well.

Speaker 1: 9:07

So Again, you have.

Speaker 1: 9:10

You have bags that you're going to place items in. They serve one of two purposes. One is to help engage and give the body Something to do so that they can focus and participate, or you're going to provide items in there that give that person kind of a retreat and escape away. If the environment that they're in is too much, you're gonna place them in some very inexpensive bags that are easily carried and Located. You could put a command hook strip up in the spaces that you want to keep it in so that they are easily Accessible, but this is a great way To provide the needs and accommodations for individuals to participate in your space.

Speaker 1: 9:57

It's low cost, it's easy to access and it is comforting and also sends the messages to your families that listen, we care, we understand, you are welcomed and you are valued here. Sensory bags and easy investment, a small investment with a big impact. Again, letting those families know we get it, we understand, we care about you and you are welcome here. Do I know everything about disability ministry? Do I have all the answers? Have I done everything perfectly? I've absolutely not, but we are gonna continue this conversation so that people of all abilities can have the opportunity to know Christ, to grow in him and serve him with the gifts that he has given them. Good thanks, a million.