Georgia State University has opened a new sensory room in the University Library, a calming space designed to promote accessibility, mental wellness, and a sense of belonging for all students. The room provides a peaceful environment where students can step away from the bustle of campus life to recharge, refocus, and regulate their sensory experiences.
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Gail Rodriguez
Communications Manager
School of Public Health
Center for Leadership in Disability
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Georgia State University has opened a new sensory room in the University Library, a calming space designed to promote accessibility, mental wellness, and a sense of belonging for all students. The room provides a peaceful environment where students can step away from the bustle of campus life to recharge, refocus, and regulate their sensory experiences.
The sensory room was two years in the making, initiated by an article in the GSU Signal newsletter discussing the need for sensory spaces on our urban campus. The provost and the staff at ELAW Academy initially heard about the request, which was later developed through a collaborative effort among the Executive Leadership Academy for Women (ELAW), the Center for Leadership in Disability, the Access & Accommodations Center, and the University Library. The sensory room reflects Georgia State's ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive campus community.
Featuring soft lighting, comfortable seating, and a variety of calming tools, the space is designed to meet the needs of neurodivergent students, such as those with autism or ADHD who may experience sensory overload, anxiety, or stress, while also serving as a resource for anyone seeking a quiet moment to pause and unwind.
The creation of the sensory room aligns with the university's broader efforts to foster inclusive excellence and holistic student well-being. As part of this initiative, staff from multiple departments worked together to design a space that supports the diverse sensory needs of Georgia State's student body. The sensory room has also employed some Inclusive Digital Expression and Literacy (IDEAL) students. The IDEAL students maintain the sensory space's inventory, create sensory-friendly maps of the GSU campus, and help spread the word about the new space.
Spenser Norris, Inclusive College Program Manager at the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State, worked with the ELAW Cohort from the project's early planning stages through opening day. "It is a great way to show neurodivergent students and those with sensory needs that they belong here at Georgia State," Norris said. "Students with disabilities that I work with every day are excited to work, study, and spend time in the sensory room. It has also created new vocational training and employment opportunities for students in the IDEAL Program."
Georgia State students can access the sensory room during regular library hours. More information about the sensory space and how to make a reservation is on the Georgia State University Library's website.
