DRYDEN, N.Y. (WENY) -- Balancing college life can be challenging for some people, especially those who are neurodivergent or have other mental health needs. Tompkins Cortland Community College is trying to help by welcoming everyone to its new on-campus sensory space.

Karen Rachetta, TC3's Coordinator for Access and Equity, shared that over 350 students identify as having a disability. Of those TC3 students, almost 95% of them fall under neurodivergence.

In speaking with them, Rachetta says tests, grades, and classroom environments can bring about a lot of stress and anxiety and they realized they needed a space where everyone is welcome.

"Seeing that there were students going to our Best Life Mental Health Center and having anxiety issues, you know anxiety, panic attacks, things like that we decided that we needed really a place where students can kind of come and reset," said Rachetta.

The Mental Health Association of Cortland County gifted the school with some funds to create the space. Rachetta then gathered ideas from Racker and SUNY Cortland to make the ocean and space-themed spot come to life.

Rachetta has incorporated experiences for people using the space based on human senses. Typically, people think of the big five. Taste, sight, smell, touch, and sound. But, she shares there are actually a few others.

"There's vestibular and proprioception, which is balance and coordination and the movement of your body, like the sense of your body in space," said Rachetta. "And then there's interoception, which is the feelings, like being able to feel the organs in your body, so somebody not being able to feel hunger or not feeling a sense of danger in their environment. That's a sensory system."

People can try out the swings for movement, change the light and sound in the area, play with various fidget toys, eat sour candy to help with anxiety, try out the deep pressure canoe, use weighted stuffed animals, or simply just relax. Those are just some of the features offered in the space. However, Rachetta says it will grow and change based on feedback from students.

The biggest goal of opening this area though is to provide a safe space for students to be themselves and get through the day.

"I asked one student, what's your favorite part? He says, 'I love it that there's nobody here when I come in and I can just be myself and just do what I need to do.,'" said Rachetta. "And he comes in almost every day, stays for about 10 to 15 minutes and then leaves. And it works, you know, and it's. It's such an individualized thing, so each student comes, gets what they needs and then leaves."

Rachetta also says that TC3 encompasses and embraces all individuals. So, having a space intended for the neurodivergent population is just another example of inclusion on campus.

Additionally, TC3 art students are set to start painting a mural in the sensory space in just two weeks. It's part of a semester-long project that will have students in Painting I and Painting II classes complete the mural to fit the ocean and space themes.

While the sensory space is mainly for TC3 students, Rachetta says anyone from the community can utilize it. It's open Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. and is located in TC3's Main Campus Building.