This week, we’re exploring how to use Universal Design principles to set up your classroom with your students’ experiences of safety in mind. If you haven’t already learned about UD, catch up with our introduction, and ideas to create a sensory-friendly classroom, first! 

Creating a classroom that supports felt-safety is crucial for fostering an inclusive and nurturing learning environment. Felt-safety refers to the internal sense of security and well-being that allows students to focus, engage, and thrive. This concept, popularized by Robyn Gobbel, is especially important for students with trauma histories, anxiety, or neurodivergent traits who may find typical classroom settings overwhelming or distressing.

By prioritizing felt-safety, you can help ensure all students feel secure and ready to learn.

Below are some ideas to help you design your physical space with felt-safety in mind. To support the universal design of your classroom, ensure that all students, regardless of mobility, sensory, or other access needs, can access and utilize these options. Regularly review and adjust the layout to maintain clear paths as the classroom setup changes throughout the year.

Create Clear Exit Paths

Investment: Free to Low

Trauma or anxiety can heighten a student’s need to know how to quickly leave a space if they feel unsafe. Ensuring students can see clear and unobstructed paths to exits helps foster a sense of security. 

You could: 

• Arrange furniture to keep pathways to doors clear and easily navigable
• Keep classroom aisles wide to support both felt-safety and physical accessibility
• Avoid placing large objects or storage units near exits or blocking exit signs

Allow Space to Move

Investment: Varies

Providing space for students to move around can help reduce feelings of being trapped, which can be particularly important for ADHDers, Autistic students, and those with trauma histories. 

You might: 

• Arrange desks and furniture to create open areas where students can move freely
• Designate specific areas for students to take breaks and regulate their emotions
• Offer flexible seating, using ideas from the sensory-friendly environment section above

Support Secure Personal Spaces

Students may not have personal spaces at home or may not have had opportunities for personalized regulation. Providing secure personal spaces helps them feel settled and secure in the classroom.

You could: 

• Use privacy screens to create small, private areas where students can go to calm down without feeling exposed; you can also use a tri-fold poster board to allow students to create this space at their desks.
• Create regulation stations for students to get sensory input or take sensory breaks as needed.
• Provide individual storage options and work areas to give students a sense of ownership and belonging.

Maintain Clear Sightlines

Investment: Low

Students often feel safer when they can see the teacher and their classmates. Clear sightlines can help reduce anxiety and make the classroom feel more open and safer.

You could: 

• Arrange desks so all students can see each other and the teacher without obstructions.
• Place taller furniture, like bookshelves, along the walls to avoid blocking sightlines.
• If possible, keep glass panes in doors clear to provide visibility into and out of the classroom while balancing distraction and safety considerations.

This article is the third article that is part of a five part series about Applying Universal Design.