Finding Calm at Home: Sensory Supports for Immi
March 18, 2026
A look at how the Denver Mill Levy Program helped a Denver family access sensory tools that support their daughter’s regulation, independence, and sense of safety during moments of intense overwhelm.
Immi is an 8-year-old who loves learning new languages, reading and writing stories, building worlds in Roblox and Minecraft, and planning future trips around the globe. She is creative, bright, kind, and endlessly curious.
Immi also has a type of autism that affects the nervous system in way that makes self-regulation challenging. This type of autism means Immi has a highly sensitive sensory system. Each day, Immi experiences 10-20 moments of intense overwhelm, which can include severe panic attacks. These episodes can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours and make it difficult for her to focus, leave the house, attend school, or build friendships in the way she would like.
To better support Immi at home, her occupational therapist recommended several sensory tools designed to help regulate her nervous system. Because these items have always been out of financial reach for her family, they turned to Rocky Mountain Human Services’ (RMHS) Denver Mill Levy Program for its flexible, wraparound support.
Through the program, Immi received a pea pod with individual fabric “peas” that provide calming, deep pressure during her panic attacks, which her mother described as “terrible, trauma-inducing events that leave her unable to speak, walk, or receive verbal input that can last for hours.”
During these panic attacks, Immi likes to be buckled into the pea pod gently and have one or two weighted peas placed on her legs. Her mother added that the weighted sensory therapy that comes from the pea pod “calms her down enough that the aggressive behavior that panic attacks induce can be stopped.”
Immi also received a soft-sided playhouse through the Denver Mill Levy Program as well as fiber optic lights, creating a cozy retreat space inside her home.
Since Immi can easily hurt herself through the traditional means of building forts with chairs and blankets, the soft walls and floor are key to feeling the safety of an enclosed space while reducing the risk of knocking over something heavy in the building process.
“The soft walls make her feel safe and protected,” her mother said. “We added the lights so she can retreat when she needs to. Immi loves the lights and says they are like a rainbow.”
These tools help Immi experience moments of calm during panic and overwhelm. While she continues to navigate fear and sensory challenges, having access to the right supports at home gives her more opportunities to regulate, rest, and imagine what’s possible.
“The sensory tools are not a panacea,” her mother shared. “But they do provide a range of options for Immi to engage in play and activity that soothes her nervous system, which helps decrease dysregulation and the severity of panic attacks.”
Having these sensory tools at home has given Immi the opportunity to better understand her body and what helps her feel calm and regulated. With these supports in place, she can initiate play safely, which is an important outlet for a child with limited access to the outside world.
“We’re so grateful to Denver County and the Denver Mill Levy Program for making these sensory items possible,” her mother shared. “It’s difficult to put into words how much helping Immi through her panic attacks at home gives her a greater chance of feeling better. She has so many ideas and plans for her life that hopefully can be realized one day.”
Her mother also shared that knowing her community supports her means the world to Immi.
“… the idea that people around her support her autism has made her feel more accepted and less alone. Most importantly, it makes her feel connected to the community.”
About the Denver Mill Levy Program
The Denver Mill Levy Program supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families who reside in the City and County of Denver by offering access to flexible resources, services, and supports tailored to their unique needs. Examples include:
- Respite care for parents and caregivers
- Training, therapy, and family supports
- Developmental books and toys
- Adaptive equipment and specialized tools
- Essential items such as food, clothing, and diapers
- Recreational and creative activities
- Opportunities for community engagement through camps, clubs, and day programs
Learn more about how the Denver Mill Levy Program supports Denver families by visiting its webpage.
