Neurodivergent children take control in calming sensory Cubbies - Irish Examiner
- Olivia Weilbach
- Jun 3
- 1 min read
A multi-sensory booth developed by the father of an autistic child offers a special space away from the noise of public places
“IT JUST feels like a safe space for me” — this is how 13-year-old Conor Moriarty describes the cubbie sensory hub at Listowel Library.
“Just the fact that nobody else can come in during the time I’m in there. There’s a hammock, and before I go in, I can set the videos and sounds I want to play, which can be very relaxing — I guess I like anything related to water. When I go to sleep at night, I always listen to water sounds.”
Conor is autistic, he is high-functioning, extremely clever, and has high anxiety, explains his mum, Annette. She recalls how a library staff member, Susan, first told
Conor about the cubbie and gave him the password. “He went straight in,” says the mum of two — her younger son, Niall, is 11.
“Conor loves books but before [the cubbie was installed], he’d pick his books, speak to Susan, do some colouring and then want to leave. Now he just wants to get in the cubbie. He could spend five minutes in there or 15. He might go in, come out, and go back in again.
Comments