BEAVERTON, Ore. — Students at Tumwater Middle School in Beaverton are using a new sensory room starting this school year, thanks to the love of an older sister and her big idea.
Smarani Nilakhe, who is starting her freshman year at the University of Oregon this fall, needed one final big project to try and earn the Girl Scouts' Gold Award — the organization's top honor.
She thought about her brother Abhir, who has autism, and then she thought about how she could support him through school from afar.
"My brother, I've seen how he reacts differently to things and how he needs time with regulating his emotions and rooms like this — things in this room help him be able to do those things," Nilakhe said.
Inside the sensory room, there are plenty of objects to catch a student's attention — from a swing to toys, fabrics, swivel chairs and games.
In September, KGW visited Tumwater to see a group of special education students using the sensory room.
"I am excited to play here with my friends," said Abhir Nilakhe. "It makes me feel very happy."
Tumwater Middle School is phasing in the sensory room as an incentive for their Structured Routines students.
Smarani Nilakhe, citing research from Applied Behavioral Analysis therapists and their endorsement of sensory spaces, said she hopes more schools consider adding rooms like this one.
"A lot of the things in this room are things we have in our house, and I've seen that help," she said. "Maybe this could start a domino effect."
While she was preparing to leave for college, Nilakhe said she kept thinking about what she could leave behind to help her brother.
"I wanted a part of me to be here with him, just to support him all the way through middle school, even when I couldn't be there for him and also help the next generation," she said.
Recently, she asked Abhir after school one day what his favorite part of the day was. He answered quickly.
"He said, 'Going to the sensory room,' and that really impacted me," she said.
The room's creation and development were somewhat of a Nilakhe family affair.
Smarani's mother used her ABA Therapy background to help pick out items and toys, and her father helped build some of the items while his company — Daimler Truck North America — donated $2,000 to the project.
"It makes me feel like I've done my duties as an older sister," Nilakhe said. "Growing up alongside him, I finally get to take everything I know and be able to help him."
Nilakhe's Scout leader expects that she will receive the Gold Award after she submits all corresponding documents related to the Tumwater sensory room.