Since its unveiling in May 2025, Project CU’s Sensory Room has been making a meaningful impact on employee wellbeing and productivity. Designed as a calming space for sensory breaks, the room offers employees a supportive environment to recharge and refocus during the workday. A break in the sensory room reduces anxiety, which helps individuals recenter, resulting in improved focus and productivity.

“Project CU’s Sensory room is a place of safety for our Certified Workers to go when life feels overwhelming and fear grips the heart,” said Dr. Tonya Stewart, Employment Coordinator at Project CU. “It gives them an opportunity to restart and refocus again.”

Each item in the sensory room serves a unique purpose to create a calming and engaging environment. The bean bag chair and rocking chair provide comfortable seating options that promote relaxation, reading, and refocusing. The bubble tube offers soothing visual and auditory effects that calm the mind and body, while the 4-button wireless color controller lets users personalize the bubble tube’s colors for an interactive experience. The rod wall panel encourages motor skill development, balance, and visual coordination through hands-on activity. Finally, the living scenery projector bundle enhances the environment with calming images and music, creating a peaceful, immersive atmosphere. Together, these items foster a safe, therapeutic space for sensory engagement and emotional regulation.

Joseph, a Certified Worker at Project CU finds the Sensory Room has done just that, saying, “This is a place of peace for me.”

This initiative was made possible through an improvements grant from the Missouri Department of Education Extended Employment Program, along with a targeted gift from our valued partner, Treat Planet, LLC. Their support reflects a shared commitment to inclusive workplaces and employee wellness.

The Sensory Room is more than just a quiet space—it’s a reflection of Project CU’s mission to foster independence, opportunity, and meaningful work for individuals of all abilities. Stopping By Project CU? All members of the Project CU family are invited to experience the Sensory Room and see firsthand the difference it is making.