Great Oaks Legacy Charter School opens new sensory room

Great Oaks Legacy Charter School in Newark kicked off Autism Acceptance Month by unveiling a new “state-of-the-art” Sensory Room at Legacy Elementary School.

The initiative highlights GOLCS’s “deep commitment to inclusive education, specifically tailored to support students with autism programming —ensuring every scholar can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally."

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Funded by a grant from the New Jersey Children’s Foundation, the sensory room represents the vision of Lorrie Weaver, GOLCS managing director of Special Education and Support Services. Recognizing a “critical gap in resources for students with autism and sensory processing needs,” Weaver compiled a wishlist and “rallied community support, helping to secure the funding and resources needed to bring this transformative space to life.”

“Our sensory room symbolizes our school’s fundamental belief that every child deserves not only to be educated, but empowered,” said Weaver. “By first meeting scholars’ sensory needs, we unlock their full academic potential. At Great Oaks Legacy, all truly means all—and we’re committed to providing every scholar with the tools necessary to succeed.”

Developed collaboratively with sensory experts at Fun and Function, the sensory room features advanced therapeutic equipment such as a sound-activated light-up wall panel, fiber optic tunnel, LED sensory roller slide, cocoon swing, trampoline, scooter boards, interactive sequin wall panels, and calming sensory lighting. Each resource was selected to support students in enhancing self-regulation, sensory integration, motor skills, and social-emotional growth.

Across the Great Oaks Legacy network, approximately 14% of students—totaling over 300 scholars—are classified with disabilities; among them, over 10% have autism.

Read the full article on NJ.com.