TC3 Opens New Sensory Space on Dryden Campus

Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) has opened a new sensory space that the school says is designed to support neurodiverse students. The new sensory space will provide a calm and welcoming environment that students may utilize to relax, study, and feel safe in. The new sensory space will be located in the Baker Commons.

The new room, TC3 says, features sensory-friendly elements including calming lighting, soothing sounds, fidget tools, and various resources that are designed to reduce anxiety and foster productivity.

The school continued to note the new room was able to be created thanks to a gift from the Mental Health Association of Cortland County. The creation was also credited with expert advice provided by Racker and SUNY Cortland. Karen Rachetta, TC3’s coordinator of access and equity services, also led the effort to create the sensory space.

“We have more than 300 students who self-identify as having a disability, and 95% of those are neurodivergent,” said Rachetta. “This space is for them.”

The new space though will continue to evolve, Rachetta noted, through feedback from its users. The space will also soon add artwork that is from a semester-long project by students from Megan VanKanega’s Painting I and II classes. The students are working on completing a mural on some of the wall areas of the space.

“The space was created with the intention to meet the needs of the divergent community, but it benefits all people,” said Rachetta. “Every human being processes sensory information differently and can benefit from this space.”

The new space will be open and available for the campus community, TC3 says, from 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday.