DEMAND Design & Manufacture for Disability – Sensory Chairs

Your support can provide sensory sanctuary for students with autism

 The charity DEMAND Design & Manufacture for Disability is hoping to produce two specialist sensory rocking chairs to help the students at Breckenbrough School in Thirsk.

The project is being supported by the Co-op Local Community Fund, and the charity need local people’s support to raise the £2268.00 needed to make these chairs.

Each chair is built to accommodate the needs of children and teenagers with autism and other sensory processing disorders using a fabric hood to restrict light and sound input. The chair provides a safe place that students can learn to go when the stresses of the day simply get too much, meaning the children can recharge, recollect themselves and better cope with sensory overload.

Co-op members can choose to support this project as part of the Co-op Local Community Fund by visiting https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/10170 and non-members can join the Co-op for just £1 to offer their support. Visit www.coop.co.uk/membership to join.

“With enough local support we’ll  be able to provide two Sensory Shell Chairs and give the students at Breckenbrough School a place to go when the stresses of the day get too much, providing an opportunity to learn the valuable skill of self-regulation which will help them to better access learning and continue to benefit them throughout their adult lives.” Denise Gillies, Fundraising Manager at DEMAND

“The Sensory Shell Chairs will be a much used and welcomed addition to the provision we offer, as bouncing is a widely used technique to help calm anxious children and can be particularly beneficial for those on the autism spectrum.” Diane Walker from Breckenbrough School explains, “The gentle, repetitive motion helps to reduce anxiety through a physical action that requires no thought. The unique hooded design of these chairs offers a warm, cocoon and valuable privacy to young people.