Located in Room 1101 of the Old Capitol Town Center, a new lounge dedicated to Student Disability Services is open to any student at the University of Iowa.
UI President Barbara Wilson spoke to a crowd of approximately 40 people on Sept. 24 during the lounge’s opening.
During her speech, Wilson recalled how students approached her during a meeting two years ago asking about a space dedicated to students with various forms of disabilities. At the time, she was unsure if the UI had the space to give them.
“[I’m] just grateful for our student leaders for saying this would be really helpful to have — a lounge that’s quiet, that we can monitor the temperature and the lighting, and really just take a deep breath and get a kind of a recentering moment,” Wilson said.
Mike Venzon, director of Student Disability Services, said surveys were conducted when designing the lounge.
“Student feedback was huge in finding out what some of the best practices might be,” Venzon said.
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In addition to warm, adjustable lighting and a temperature-controlled room, the space offers a fidget center, weighted stuffed animals, different seating options for sensory preferences, adjustable tables, and soothing paintings as decorations.
The lounge is open to any UI student from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays.
“I’m really gratified to hear that it’s open to all students, which is really important because we can all learn about each other no matter what our backgrounds and differences are,” Wilson said in her speech.
Mackenzie Goss, a contracts and assignment specialist for UI Housing and Dining, supports students living on campus and used Student Disability Services as a UI student. Goss remembers how when she was a UI student, a lot of people wanted a space on campus that was quiet.
“I love that it’s not just for student with disabilities or students with SDS,” she said. “I like that it’s a really multiple space that isn’t necessarily academic focused or like a personal space, but just something in between, where you can go into the mall and you’re on campus.”