Date of Graduation

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences

Advisor/Mentor

Whitehead-Adams, Isabel M.

Committee Member

Wood, Lisa S.

Second Committee Member

Wiersma-Mosley, Jacquelyn D.

Third Committee Member

Smith, Adrain

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder, or autism, is a genetic neurological condition that can affect all aspects of an individual’s life, depending on their symptoms. Autistic people tend to struggle most significantly with social and emotional issues, which often results in declining academic success. With such a multifaceted disability, autistic students can struggle to perform at the same standards as their non-autistic peers, mostly due to the complications from their disability paired with limited accommodations. The consequences of these issues can manifest as lower admission rates, higher dropout rates, and higher stress levels for autistic students. This creative and service-learning honors thesis aimed to design and create a multi-sensory room on-campus for autistic and non-autistic students to use to escape academic and interpersonal stressors, receive positive sensory stimulation, practice self-soothing activities, and have access to educational materials about autism and wellness in an academic setting. After receiving a grant from Bumpers College, we were able to locate and outfit a space with the sensory additions necessary to create a “multi-sensory room.” Educational materials were also created to provide users with information regarding autism, stimming, and other relevant information to contextualize the items placed within the room. This space can offer University of Arkansas students multifaceted support by providing a service that is open to all students, regardless of diagnostic status, with the tools and space needed to assist in emotional regulation. Future researchers should (1) assess the quality and usage of this space, providing future adjustments as deemed necessary; and (2) assess the relationship between autism, burnout, sensory experiences, and the college environment to better understand and further develop accommodations for autistic students.

Keywords

Autism; Disability Access; Multisensory; Accessibility; Burnout; Inclusion

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