Lenten Campaign 2025
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A Catholic church in the NYC area recently opened a “sensory room” for people with special needs. The room is designed to promote calm and peace, making it easier for children with autism and other special needs to attend Mass.
Lark Lasardo, a mom whose child uses the Still Waters Sensory Room, told Aleteia how much it helps their whole family:
Our son Percy really benefits from sensory breaks. They help reduce his anxiety and keep him focused.
The noise, crowds, and pace of Mass can be a little overwhelming for him. So going to the Still Waters room gives him time to sit and enjoy the quiet, which helps him stay regulated. He can take a break and rejoin Mass without having to leave the church or stand in the entranceway.
When he was a small child, we would leave Mass early, or my husband would take Percy outside. Now, we can all be in the nave and enjoy Mass from start to finish.
She feels that the room sends an important message: “The existence of such a space in a parish tells parishioners that all are truly welcome.”
Here’s the “how to”
If you’d like to set up something like it at your church, here are a few steps to take.
We heard from Kimberly Takacs, executive director of Together We Bloom, a disability justice nonprofit with a mission to empower young children with disabilities through equitable access to connection, communication, and community.
Takacs is a parishioner at St. Joseph’s Church, home of the Still Waters Sensory Room. She worked with the chair of the Board of Directors of Together We Bloom, Janelle Gera, who is AuDHD (Autistic and ADHD). You can read here about their design process.
Takacs shared the following advice for starting something like this at a church.
1Don’t hesitate
Go for it! This room is such a gift to St. Joseph's whole community, and I hope more parishes make a sensory quiet space part of their community.
2Consult with people who will use it
Listen and learn from neurodivergent and disabled people with sensory differences to ensure the space and materials are actually helpful tools and not themselves overwhelming.
3Persevere
There may be logistical challenges to navigate, but don't let that keep you from centering the importance of this accommodation. There may be a learning curve for the parishioners or barriers to implementation, but navigating these is all part of building an equitable community.
4Find other ways to learn and grow
Don't just stop at adding this one accommodation. Seek out other ways to support the participation of disabled and neurodivergent people in your community and beyond. Learn about disability justice from disabled people and make changes to systems that inadvertently exclude members of the community.
5Seek help if needed
If you're feeling like you need outside help, Together We Bloom offers services to help organizations looking to make their community more accessible. Feel free to reach out if you want more information about our offerings.
