Home is Where the Heart is. And Where the SENSORY WALL IS! 1.30.25
A hallway full of thanks to all who celebrated our sensory wall with us last evening. With 6 different local orgs involved in this project, we had some wonderfully inspiring people here together to share their part in the project. We were able to tell them all how much we appreciate this amazing gift for our students and the impact it is making on all of us.
Kristi Isabella, the artist from Create Community Studios who was commissioned to create the panels, spoke about her experience with it, and how seeing it in our school brings her so much happiness. Assemblyman Santabarbara Angelo shared gratitude for all of the parties involved in making lives better for individuals on the spectrum. He remembered past times when no one knew or cared about sensory difficulties, and how far our community has come.
Our own Executive Director, Kelly Young emphasized the mission of Crossroads is to help our students develop the skills that will help them be successful in their lives, and how this project in its placement on our walls gives them opportunities for speech and language, social interaction, behavior reinforcement, motor engagement, and exploration. It is truly at home with us at Crossroads Center for Children.
We posed along the wall where the panels live. Hopefully everyone likes at lease one of these many pictures!
Reach out to us if you’d like to come and see for yourself!
Making Words 1.31.25
T is enjoying the letters on this occasion. He is working on literacy skills, fine motor skills, and even science skills with the magnetic letters.
Laughter and Phone Conversations 1.28.25
A had his teacher, Julie, in stitches making phone calls on the sensory wall today. His call conversations included asking questions, like “what time is it?”, and “what are you doing?” and telling about his good day. We love this so much!
Sensory Sensation! 11.22.24
Everyone is LOVING the sensory wall. It is so much fun to see the kids and hear them as they interact with the items and also with their adults. From twirling, to using a phone, to practicing locks, the wall is a huge hit and never grows old.
It is INSTALLED!
11.13.24
Do you remember that a few years back we received a very special donation from Schenectady ARC? It was a 5 sided Sensory Wall, with all manner of media and materials from things to touch to gadgets to manipulate.
The wall was built by a coalition of Schenectady folks, all of whom we know and love. Funding was provided by the Arts Center of the Capital Region, which was won by Schenectady ARC and was a collaboration with the Schenectady Rotary, The Autism Society, CREATE Community Studios. Kristi Isabella, an artist and instructor with CREATE designed and built the walls with the help of Schenectady Rotary. Kristi did the remarkable work of making this 5-sided piece come to life to give sensory experiences to others.
It is now on our walls after being in storage as we awaited our move. Today, Kurt from LeChase installed it. Today our kids were awed, but not just our kids – our staff has been having so much fun trying everything out and seeing how things work so that they can guide their students. It’s such a special addition to our school, and we are filled with gratitude.
