Most of the research conducted has been on adults, so there is very little known about how it affects children. Garfield is currently compiling data to find out more accurately how Katie's Corner is affecting the children.
Students who are hearing impaired or visually impaired can benefit from the room as well, Garfield said. One piece of equipment is a ladder where a light moves higher as a person's voice gets louder. The ladder helps deaf students gauge how loud they are when they speak or make noises.
Sumer Porter, the school's teacher for the visually impaired, said she finds ways to help her students with the advanced equipment.
"(The room) has different pieces of equipment with lights on them and the room is darker to help peak their visual interest," Porter said.
Still, Garfield can see one downside to the expensive equipment.
"You can't tell parents to use (the room) at home because they don't have it," Garfield said.
Garfield looks at the effects of the room on a case-by-case basis, but the true value of the addition is in its potential.
"What we have available has improved, and now we have more possibilities and equipment that we can try out on different students so that they can work to the best of their ability."
Reach Angela Lu at a-lu@northwestern.edu.
2008 Woodie Awards
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