The space of care: a sensory room for the development and rehabilitation of children

The idea of creating a sensory room in the municipal non-profit enterprise of Kharkiv Regional Council “Center for Medical Rehabilitation and Palliative Care for Children “Zelena Dibrova” arose as a response to real challenges. Each year, the institution accepts between 100 and 320 children, including children with disabilities, congenital malformations, chronic diseases, as well as orphans and internally displaced persons.

It was originally planned that the completed room would be used as a swimming pool for correctional classes, but due to technical characteristics, its operation in this format was impossible. Thus, the institution lost the opportunity to equip the space for rehabilitation work, and the children were left without the necessary inclusive environment for them.

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Why is it important to us?

In the frontline region, where communities are forced to direct resources to restore critical infrastructure, the social sphere remains underfunded. However, children with special educational needs cannot wait for better times. For them, not only medical services are important, but also daily support in development, restoration of psycho-emotional state and social adaptation. The sensory room is not just walls behind which to be calm, but in general an environment where the child, through play, colors, light, tactile and motor exercises, gets a chance to recover and develop. It is a space of care in which children can feel protected, regain strength and, step by step, learn to live in new conditions.

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What do we do?

The project is being implemented from May to September 2025 with the support of Helvetas and our main steps include:

• repair and preparation of the premises;
• equipping the room with special equipment: dry swimming pool, touch panels, upholstered furniture, interactive materials for the development of motor and sensory skills;
• launch of regular classes for children with special needs.

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Particular attention is paid to sustainability: the equipment will be transferred to the communal property of the community to guarantee the long-term functioning of the space.

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Impact on the community

The sensory room in “Zelenia Dibrov” should comprehensively meet the modern requirements of an inclusive environment, which will reduce the social isolation of children with disabilities, give them access to quality rehabilitation services and help families feel supported.

For the community, it is an investment in the future: in children who will have a better chance of a full life, in specialists who will acquire new competences, and in an institution that will become an example for other regions.