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This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Benitez from Staten Island, NY is requesting flexible seating through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mr. Benitez is requesting

Calming Sensory Space

Help me give my students the calming space they need to assist in self regulation, like a comfy bean bag, modified lighting, and a weighted sweatshirt and blanket.

  • $1,607 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mr. Benitez for his next project!

Help Mr. Benitez

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mr. Benitez for his next project!

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Students

My students from New York are part of specialized Autism Spectrum Disorder programs. My school houses two specialized ASD programs. Some of my students attend an inclusion classroom with neurotypical peers. The other students receive instruction in a self contained classroom while having access to inclusion in non-major academic subjects.

Students with Autism can successfully learn among their peers with the right supports and accommodations, and a calming sensory room is one of those supports.

Please consider supporting my students in their academic endeavors. The school is a Title I school with students from varying socio-economic backgrounds.

My Project

We are requesting a comfy bean bag, modified lighting, and a weighted sweatshirt and blanket and more for the calming space they need to assist in self regulation. These materials will help create a calming, safe, sensory space for my students to use.

These safe spaces are designed to provide a place for individuals with sensory issues to decompress and confront a variety of sensory issues in a way that will ultimately help them learn to cope with seemingly normal experiences.

Individuals with Autism often struggle to cope with the world around them including loud noises, bright lights, rough patterns or foods. Because their condition can magnify seemingly small sensory encounters, they are prone to meltdowns, tantrums or negative attempts at self-soothing.

When an individual with Autism has access to a sensory room, the benefits include calming effects, stimulation, socialization, improved focus, motor skills development, cognitive development, and sensory development. Sensory spaces in schools have been shown to decrease negative behaviors and improve student engagement.

Mr. Benitez Intermediate School 72 Rocco Laurie Grades 6-8

More about Mr. Benitez

Staten Island, NY View local requests

More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

90 students impacted 23donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Mr. Benitez is requesting.

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
LOFTEK LED Light Cube: 16-inch Light Cube Seats, Color Changing Kid's Stool, Rechargeable Bar Stools, UL Listed Adapter, 4400mAh Capacity, Perfect for Sensory Education, Party Decoration • Amazon Business $114.59 2 $229.18
LARGE WEIGHTED BLANKET - PLAID • School Specialty $188.99 1 $188.99
WEIGHTED HOODIE - LARGE • School Specialty $179.99 1 $179.99
Chill Sack Bean Bag Chair: Giant 4' Memory Foam Furniture Bean Bag - Big Sofa with Soft Micro Fiber Cover - Navy • Amazon Business $155.00 1 $155.00
SPORT BALL SET - SET OF 4 • School Specialty $122.99 1 $122.99
Hatch Rest+ Baby Sound Machine, Night Light, Time-to-Rise Plus Audio Monitor, White Noise Soother, Toddler Sleep Trainer, Kids Alarm Clock, Nightlight • Amazon Business $89.99 1 $89.99
RUMBLEROLLER - 12 IN X 5 IN - MEDIUM-FIRM - BLUE • School Specialty $65.99 1 $65.99
SENSORY JUMBO OOZE TUBE • School Specialty $23.99 2 $47.98
FILTERS CLASSROOM MOOD WHISPER WHITE - SET OF 4 • School Specialty $35.99 1 $35.99
DAYBETTER Led Strip Lights 32.8ft 10m with 44 Keys IR Remote and 12V Power Supply Flexible Color Changing 5050 RGB 300 LEDs Light Strips Kit for Home, Bedroom, Kitchen,DIY Decoration • Amazon Business $31.99 1 $31.99
OPOLEMIN Window Curtain Lights Color Change Curtain String Lights of 300 RGB USB Powered, 16 Lighting Colors 4 Light Shows 9.84x9.84ft Rainbow Starry Lights for Bedroom St.Patrick's Day Weddings • Amazon Business $29.99 1 $29.99
VELCRO Brand Heavy Duty Tape with Adhesive | 15 Ft x 2 In | Holds 10 lbs, Black | Industrial Strength Roll, Cut Strips to Length | Strong Hold for Indoor or Outdoor Use • Amazon Business $20.57 1 $20.57
COLOR CHANGING CRYSTAL LAMP • School Specialty $9.97 2 $19.94
THREE POINT RELIEF MASSAGE BAR - 16 IN X 2.3 IN - BLUE • School Specialty $16.79 1 $16.79
PRISMA LIGHT • School Specialty $11.99 1 $11.99

Materials cost

$1,247.37

Vendor shipping charges

 $69.06

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$18.71

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$1,365.14

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$240.91

Total project goal

$1,606.05

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $1,606.05

11 Donors

-$1,362.22

Donations toward project cost

-$1,165.39

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$196.83

match offer

-$235.00

Match offer toward project cost

-$199.75

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$35.25

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$8.83

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Benitez and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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