Supporting Sensory Regulation: Tools for Autistic Students

Creating a conducive learning environment for autistic students often involves understanding and addressing their sensory needs. Sensory regulation tools play a crucial role in helping students maintain focus and manage sensory challenges effectively. We’ve found the sweet spot of tools that meet sensory needs and don’t disrupt other students or instruction time.

PSW’s Top 13 Favorite Sensory and Self-Regulation Tools

Here’s a roundup of PSW recommendations from our team made up of former educators and neurodiverse individuals. We’ve only included tools that are the least disruptive in the classroom.

1.      Calm Strips

These discreet, textured, adhesive strips provide tactile stimulation without causing disruptions. “They are small and adhere to either their laptop or notebook. It is tricky when they have to clear their desk off. They are not always easy to keep out during class,” shares Julie Kancler, former teacher.

Rose Jacobs, former special education teacher, says “I actually didn’t know about these, we used Velcro strips. They’re good and not disruptive.”

2.      Sensy Band

Offering gentle sensory input, Sensy Bands are textured rubber, slap-on bracelets praised for their non-disruptive nature. Since they’re flexible, students don’t have to wear them, they can also bend and manipulate them to help with fidgeting.

3.      Marble/Mesh Fidget

These are small, three-to-four-inch woven nylon tubes with a loose marble inside that you can squeeze and slide around in the tube. Julie Kancler says, “these are popular with the students, I kept them in my room. It is common for students to stretch out the net and remove the marble from the toy. They then put it into a second toy. This gives you one toy with no marbles and another with two. In that way it can be a distraction, but it’s worth the trade-off.”

4.      Chair Bands

Providing subtle movement opportunities, chair bands are thick, latex bands that attach to desk or chair legs providing a flexible footrest, beneficial for students who may struggle to sit still. “These are also great for shorter students whose feet don’t reach the floor. They do tend to break. In my classroom (11-12 graders), they would have to sign them out by giving me their phone. I don’t think you could leave them on the chair all day,” says Julie.

5.      Weighted Lap Pad

Offering comforting pressure, weighted lap pads support students’ sensory needs without causing disruptions in the classroom. They’re 20” by 30” and come in five pounds and seven pounds.

6.      Magic Worms

Magic worms are fuzzy, light weight sensory toys that offer tactile stimulation without drawing attention. “These are quiet and inexpensive. They feel nice, too,” says Julie.

7.      Fidget Spinners

These are small, plastic and include bearings that allow students to quietly rotate the tool between their fingers. “This might be an unpopular opinion, but I like these. They are quiet, cheap, and robust, unless their bearings wear down, then they can be somewhat disruptive,” says Julie. However, Rose shares that she “found that fidget spinners rarely got used as a tool rather than a toy.”

8.      Gel Toys

While non-disruptive, gel toys, which are like gel or dough-filled stress balls, can be challenging to clean up if they break. Julie says, “these are the worst to clean up when they break. I am also unsure what types of plasticizers is in the rubber, but I was always reminding kids to wash their hands after using one.”

9.      Visual Timers

Supporting time management skills, visual timers aid students in understanding and managing task durations without causing disruptions.

10.   Noise Canceling Headphones

These headphones offer students a way to reduce auditory stimulation and maintain focus without disturbing others in the classroom. We recommend over-the-ear headphones because they’re easier to clean.

11.   Therapy Putty

We like that therapy putty can come in different levels of resistance and satisfy students who like to pick apart or rip things. The downside our team notes is that therapy putty can be difficult to clean, especially if it gets into carpet.

12.   Sensory Break Kits

These kits provide students with a variety of tools (some we’ve mentioned on here) to support sensory regulation and offer a structured approach to breaks. You can also DIY kits with your students to give them an assortment of tools that are best for them.

13.      Pop-its

While enjoyable for sensory seekers, teachers note the potential for distraction, particularly among younger students.

By incorporating these tools thoughtfully into the classroom, teachers can create inclusive spaces that meet the diverse sensory needs of autistic students, ultimately fostering engagement and academic success.