Birmingham City Schools -

Birmingham City Schools is the first public school district in the nation to provide specialized sensory inclusivity training for its schools. 

Made possible through a partnership with Birmingham-based nonprofit KultureCity, the training enables educators and staff to identify students with sensory needs and to alleviate a sensory-overload scenario.

“We wanted to make sure that our students were treated in a way that was sensitive to what their abilities are,” said Dr. Mark Sullivan, Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools. “We wanted to make sure that our principals, our teachers, our secretaries, our bus drivers were aware of students who may be on the spectrum and the behaviors that those students may display — some of the characteristics the students may display — and not confuse some of those characteristics with disciplinary issues.”

Schools are also equipped with KultureCity Sensory Bags, which include noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards, and KCVIP lanyards to calm scholars who may feel overwhelmed by their environment.

Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD, and other similar conditions. One of the major barriers for these individuals is sensitivity to overstimulation and noise, which can be a major part of the environment at a location like a school. Sensory inclusivity training enables schools to be better prepared to assist students with sensory sensitivities in having the most comfortable and accommodating experience possible.

The partnership with KultureCity began in 2023 with the installation of a certified sensory room at Hayes K-8 School, with more sensory rooms installed at additional schools, such as Tuggle Elementary School and Minor Elementary School, since then.