Students with disabilities at Fleming Island Elementary School now have a special classroom that promotes a therapeutic way to learn.
It's called the "Flamingo Island Sensory Room," and it has bean bags and a hammock to help kids calm down.
But the room is also used to engage the children through physical activities. Those activities include a balance beam, a tunnel, a trampoline, and a teeter totter.
If that's not enough, there's also a rowing machine available.
"It's just really an opportunity for kids to have different ways of being engaged in the developmental process," Clay County Schools Superintendent Addison Davis says.
Exciting morning opening the Flamingo Island Sensory Room. This room is a wonderful opportunity for students and staff to utilize different techniques to offer a diverse learning environment. Thanks to all the staff and sponsors for making this possible for kids! pic.twitter.com/gSlvLS6Hek
— Addison Davis (@AddisonGDavis) October 4, 2018
He says the sensory room is based off a national model that has already been successful.
They plan to extend the program to other schools in the county. Davis says they'll eventually expand the initiative at the Fleming Island campus.
"I can tell you right now we are probably going to have to have another one at Fleming Island," Davis says.
He says it was great to see the kids smiling from ear to ear when they opened the classroom for the first time today, and the goal is to create the best academic experience possible.