TAMPA, FL -- Imagine trying to write without knowing how hard you're holding the pencil or not being able to hear your teacher because the rain outside is too loud.
Well, this is a problem many children face everyday. Now, a Tampa school has opened a one-of-a-kind lab to help.
Allison is practicing her letters, not because she doesn't know them, but because drawing them is difficult.
Leslie Hiltz is an occupational therapist. "The kids are usually referred to therapy because of some handwriting deficit. Is usually the first sign and it's usually when they're pretty young."
Writing problems are an early warning sign of sensory processing disorder. Essentially, Allison's brain has trouble managing the amount of stimulation it receives from the nervous system. As a result, she has difficulty with fine motor movements and needs additional stimulation to help her focus.
Hiltz says, "And a lot of these kids, because their bodies don't really feel, this doesn't really feel any different than that to them. They never really develop that internal map of left and right."
So Allison comes here, not to play, but to learn. This is the new sensory lab at Pepin Academies designed to help kids with sensory processing disorders. And it's the only lab of its kind in Hillsborough County Public Schools.
Crisha Scolaro is one of the founders. "We have everything here. It's all under one roof. As you can see from this sensory environment center, these students don't have to leave campus. It's all right here for them."
And Allison is loving it. Hiltz says, "This environment allows them to come get their input and their needs and then go back and be successful in the classroom.
Pepin Academies is a charter school in Hillsborough County and does currently have openings for special needs students.
