From: Rick Couch
Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services
The sewing ministry of New Home Assembly of God, with help from other area churches in the Holtville area, recently delivered 200 sensory squares, sensory mats, and clothing protectors to the Children’s Rehabilitation Service (CRS) state office in Montgomery. This donation was a follow-up to a previous delivery of weighted stuffed animals.
CRS, a program of the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS), has partnered with the sewing ministry in the past. Program Specialist for Speech Language Pathology Sonia Cleckler said the squares and clothing protectors were delivered to the state office, but they will have a statewide impact.
“These are being distributed to all of our 14 offices in CRS to give to anyone who comes,” she said. “It can be a person we serve or a client’s sibling who is dysregulated and needs one.”
The squares have different textures to provide sensory regulation for visitors to clinics. Their primary purpose is to provide hands-on tactile stimulation, emotional regulation, and cognitive development. They are widely used in classrooms, sensory rooms, and therapy settings.
The large clothing protectors are used for taller clients who still need coverage while eating. Clothing protectors, similar to adult bibs, shield garments from spills. They ensure that users can maintain their dignity, independence, and style during meals or daily activities
Sonia said CRS office members have received positive feedback from parents who were grateful to obtain these items at no cost.
She added that they will deliver packets to every CRS office for distribution, regardless of the clinic.
The delivery was made by a representative of the women’s ministry from the church, Teresa Johnson, who worked as a nutritionist vendor for CRS for over 25 years. She is a retired professor from Troy University. Dr. Johnson is grateful for the work that CRS provides to families and children across the state and looks forward to continued partnerships.
