Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana unveiled a new sensory room at the Portage Club on Monday, September 11. At the ribbon-cutting event, attendees got to tour the room and learn more about its features. This sensory room is the first of similar additions to the other Clubs in Northwest Indiana.
“It is a huge day for Boys & Girls Club here in Portage,” said Mike Jessen, CEO and president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana. "When you look at the space and the work that's gone into putting this together, it's a significant amount of work. It is an incredibly important thing to have here in the Club. Our hope with Boys and Girls Club is that this is the first of many that we ultimately have.”
The room came about thanks to an anonymous donor and the hard work of Club staff. Johnnett Roby, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana director of social and wellness, brought her expertise as a licensed social worker to help design the room.
“I trained under another social worker, and she was very instrumental in training me and had worked in sensory rooms with the East Chicago School System,” said Roby. “When I came to Boys & Girls Club, I noticed that there was nothing sensory - there was no sensory equipment or anything within the Clubs. What social workers learned post-pandemic is that we are dealing with a lot of kids who have issues with processing sensory needs. I was seeing a lot of kids with those needs when we didn't necessarily have the correct equipment to accommodate them.”
Roby would send a proposal to Duneland Club’s leadership that would lead to the room that was very much needed for the kids, including those with Autism or other sensory processing disorders the room can help service.
“It is a need, period,” said Roby. “There are sensory needs with kids in all of our Clubs. Time in this room can help our children improve visual, arbitrary textile processing in addition to fine grossing motor skills. It helps to prevent meltdowns and overstimulation which creates this safe place where the children can process difficulties that need to be addressed.”
Being able to serve a wide array of children including those with sensory needs is something the Club prides itself on.
“I take pride in the diversity of our Club, and that we accept every child who comes to us,” said Adam Clough, Portage Club director. “I want everyone to have an opportunity to experience the Club. Even if they have a specialty, we're going to make sure they are part of us and safe here at the Club while having fun."
Clough said that the Portage Club has already seen several members take advantage of the room before the ribbon cutting.
For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, visit bgcgreaternwi.org.
