POWERGRAMS

22 No child will be le behind at Wilsonville Elementary School. That's because members of the Gaston Chapter of the Alabama Service Organization (APSO) have promised to support the school, located in an underserved area of Shelby County. Indeed, Gaston APSO's Adopt-a-School, members have proudly assisted Wilsonville Elementary for more than 10 years. On numerous occasions, APSO members have proved themselves to be "Johnny on the spot" for Wilsonville Elementary School teachers who call with special requests. Such was the case when Gaston Maintenance Team Leader Justin Bailey heard that the school needed additional resources for autistic students. The school's former special needs teacher le, taking the supplies – which is not at all unusual because many teachers buy school supplies from their own paychecks. Bailey, with 2017 Gaston APSO President Melissa Williamson and other APSO members, was dismayed to learn that autistic children were going without necessary equipment. Gaston APSO board members got to work, holding many plant fundraisers and donating $600 toward the cost of new equipment for the school. KultureCity wanted to assist, and gave $1,700. The Gaston Chapter of the Energizers – Alabama Power's charitable arm for retirees of Alabama Power, Southern Company Services and Southern Nuclear – donated $2,500. "When the school's new special education teacher learned we'd be redesigning the room, she just cried," said Gaston Scheduler Karen White. "She was crying with excitement. The room really couldn't be used for the lack of equipment." On Nov. 27, teachers and administrators – with some help from Gaston APSO members – proudly unveiled a new sensory room for autistic children. Entering the room, one feels an immediate, calming sensation, White said. Gaston APSO volunteers painted the room with odor-free, school-approved paint to create a soothing backdrop reminiscent of calm, blue waters. Furry textures and other tactile stimuli such as gel fidgets and a fidget lap pad await. Gaston APSO members installed the equipment during the week of Thanksgiving holidays, so there'd be no interruption of classes. Earlier in November, several employees spent a day power-washing the exterior of the school and painting the handrails for a fresh, clean look. Volunteers even built a storage shed for the school. In all, Gaston employees volunteered more than 50 hours in improving the school. Teachers at Wilsonville Elementary School are thrilled with the room, which features supplies from KultureCity, a Birmingham-based nonprofit that works to foster acceptance for people with autism. Bailey calls the sensory room – designed for kindergarteners through fih-grade students – a "very special place where children can be taken to remove the distractions of the outside world around them." The room is designed not only to calm students but to help them learn. Before the redesign, the 12-by-12-foot room contained lile equipment besides a small maress. Now, the room includes state-of-the- art gear such as manual dexterity boards, physio balls, a "ready set move" classroom activity set, a concentration rocker, textured pop beads, gel floor tiles and even a "cozy cove" where students can relax away from others. "This type of room encourages children's minds to focus, allowing for real progress that will help influence their day-to-day lives in a positive way," said Bailey, Gaston APSO president in 2014. "This room helps children with special needs or sensory disabilities to learn through play. A child with a sight disability will find joy in equipment that makes a noise or vibrates, whereas a child with a hearing disability may like equipment that lights up." Children with autism may need additional help in the classroom. "For children with autism, textures and colors can help them calm down," White said. "There can be stress on children, just like adults have stressors. This room is for any child who needs a minute to chill." Bailey said the project is all about taking care of children. "APSO has been given a wonderful opportunity to be leaders in our community," said Bailey, Maintenance team leader at Gaston. "Our Gaston family was there when Wilsonville Elementary School reached out for help. It's what we do in APSO." White said APSO may consider creating similar sensory rooms for other schools as part of statewide education efforts. "It was a really big day for us," White said. Nave displays some of the new purchases for her students.

• Cover