Sensory Island to open at Tanger Outlets in Deer Park

Ralu Onubogu, of Islip, faced a dilemma when taking her three children to public play spaces. Two of them, Amanda, 9, and Chinedu, 7, would enjoy themselves while her oldest, Toby, 15, who has autism, would get overstimulated at places with loud music and flashing lights.

"Toby’s holding his head and covering his ears because there was too much going on," says Onubogu, who works as a physical therapist. "That would break my heart."

Onubogu took action by setting out a to create a play center that caters to all, with spaces specially designed for neurodiverse children. Her vision will soon become reality as Sensory Island is set to debut at Tanger Outlets in Deer Park this April, in time for World Autism Month. A ribbon cutting preview of the new space was held Thursday.

The center, which is 13,000-square foot and plans to be open daily, features 11 themed rooms designed with a light pastel scheme.

"We are going for a bright cheerful look with happy colors. A rainbow on the floor shows you the direction of each room," says Sensory Island board member Hasan Abdalla, a physical therapist. "Each room has a color and you follow the stripe to that room."

Onubogu says Sensory Island is a therapeutic play space that "essentially works on addressing different aspects of impairments for neurodiverse children, who struggle, by using the concept of play. "

Sensory Island will not only cater to neurodiverse children, who need assistance with sensory integration techniques, but all children. The center will be staffed with a physical therapist, speech pathologist, occupational therapist and social worker.

"We initially wanted a place where all these special kids would feel included, accepted and supported," board member Anubha Goel, also a physical therapist, says. "It’s turning into this place where we can integrate all children from several months old to age 18."

Here’s a breakdown of what will be offered. 

MOTOR SKILLS ROOM

Everything in the Motor Skills Room is addressed with the concept of play. Picture climbing walls, a zip line, a ball pit, an obstacle course plus a little post office, a minivan and an ice cream shop.

"Movement drives regulation," says Goel. "Our Motor Skills Room focuses on strengthening, balance, coordination and motor planning development, which kids need at different levels."

GLAM ROOM

Children who are neurodiverse struggle with the sensory stimulation that comes with getting a haircut. The Glam Room will offer a hair salon that services both boys and girls.

"We use a reduced sound clipper that doesn’t give the buzz and the vibration," Onubogu says. "The environment is sensory designed to lessen the anxiety."

SENSORY CAFE

Recreating a coffee shop atmosphere, kids can enjoy snacks and drinks as they take a break in a hangout area called the Sensory Cafe.

"This is a place where children can connect and have a playdate," Onubogu states. "We will have an occupational therapist facilitating socialization."

PARTY DEN

Parents can rent out the Party Den for birthday parties and celebrations. The space holds up to 100 people and features a side room for neurodiverse children.

"It serves as a quiet little nook, where parents can take a child away to calm down and decompress," Onubogu explains. "Once they reorganize themselves, they can face everybody again. This way they don’t have to melt down in front of everybody. The child can maintain their dignity."

ADL SUITE

A studio apartment with a bedroom and kitchen that has a sink, dishwasher, microwave plus a washer/dryer is available in the ADL (activities of daily living) Suite, which will teach neurodiverse children how to do household chores.

"The goal of this space is to help children become as independent as possible," Onubogu says. "It’s important to show kids with special needs an activity with repetition. Consistency is critical to their learning process."

THERAPY GYM

Training for strength, coordination and agility is the focus of the Therapy Gym, which will contain a treadmill, a rebounder, an OmniCycle, balance beams, swings, weights and more.

"This will be for physical therapy services," Onubogu says. "Instead of parents having to go to different centers getting these services, they all will be on site."

ART STUDIO

The four walls of the Art Studio will each have a different texture. One will be a chalkboard, another a dry erase board, a third features a smart board as well as a water paint board.

"It’s all about free artistic expression," says Onubogu. "Paper will even be covering the floor. You can paint on the walls, you can draw on the floor and we reset it the next day."

MELODY ROOM

Music is the common thread in The Melody Room, which gets filled with instruments like a piano, drums and maracas.

"Kids are allowed to come in and try all the instruments," says Goel. "If anything sparks an interest, we can offer classes."

VISUAL STIMULATION ROOM

The inspiration for the Visual Stimulation Room is the "Soarin’ Around the World" ride at EPCOT Center in Walt Disney World. Kids can sit in bean bags on the floor as all the walls transport them to various environments.

"You could feel like you are in the middle of the ocean, on the top of a mountain or in the middle of the forest," Onubogu says. "Meanwhile you are sitting in a room safe, but all these different things are happening around you."

UPCOMING ROOMS

Two additional rooms are being planned for the future. A Slime Room will be dedicated for play with green slime in a room containing a make-believe slime river on the ground as well as a shelf for making your own slime. The Sensory Room will utilize lighting, nooks, Snoezelen equipment (bubble tubes, fiber optics, projectors, interactive wall panels, sound systems and soft-play furniture) to create a calming atmosphere intended to regulate even the most hyperactive kids.

OTHER AREAS

Sensory Island is set to have a shop where parents can buy learning tools and adaptive toys that facilitate learning plus four office suites where professionals like a nutritionist, a pediatrician and a holistic practitioner are able to work on site. A preschool is being planned for the morning hours as well as enrichment classes and a summer camp.

Christina Forrester, who has a 5-year-old daughter who has autism and is autistic herself, is excited about the arrival of Sensory Island.

"Instead of expecting neurodivergent children to just adapt to an overwhelming environment, the space was created to support how their brains and bodies naturally regulate," says Forrester. "We now have a home-away-from-home where they can explore and learn in an environment that understands different learning styles and sensory needs."