Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 Receives Grant for Multisensory Hands-on Centers

LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA – A Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 (IU13) Autistic Support Classroom received a grant from CCRES, utilizing the funds to offer multisensory options throughout the 2023-2024 school year. These engaging multisensory centers supplement regular instruction to help students learn valuable skills that will ultimately foster independence and success after the classroom.

“Hands-on learning allows students to have a visual in front of them and manipulate it as they figure out how it works,” said Megan Deck, teacher of special education at IU13. “Practicing important skills with many items helps to solidify the knowledge as a concept that can be applied in multiple contexts and eliminate student frustration when asked to demonstrate the skill without the items present.”

So far, students have practiced counting animals and then seeing in real-life why they were using counting as well as using dice with numbers and dots that make a loud popping sound to provide students with physical feedback when they make it roll.

The multisensory centers were made possible by a grant from CCRES, a non-profit organization that partners with intermediate units, school districts, and behavioral health programs to provide specialized support for children and adults with special needs. Learn more about the school-age programs and services offered by IU13 at: https://www.iu13.org/students-families/special-ed/special-ed-programs/