The Story Behind Calmii®

Calmii® was born in the quiet, overwhelming moments of being a SEND mum.

I’m Rose — mum of two, full-time parent carer, and the designer behind Calmii®.

When my youngest struggled with regulation and communication, I noticed something important: before words, before visuals, before prompts — he reached for texture.

He needed something in his hands. Something grounding. Something tactile.

But everything I found was either overstimulating, screen-based or purely visual.

So I built what didn’t exist.

From an idea to Calmii®

Calmii® began at my kitchen table and in the cupboard under the stairs.

I taught myself CAD from scratch, started printing prototypes late at night and spent hours testing snap-fits, tolerances and textures — all while navigating life as a carer.

There were plenty of failed prints, plenty of changes and plenty of moments when I wondered whether I could actually make it work.

But slowly, the idea became something real.

The original Calmii® Bar was created as a handheld, screen-free tactile communication tool, allowing children to interact with communication through something they could physically feel, hold and explore.

Because for some children, tactile comes before language.

Calmii® has grown

What started with one tactile communication tool has grown into a wider range of tactile resources supporting communication, routines, transitions, emotions, regulation and choice.

Calmii® now supports children at home, in schools and in education settings, with tactile tiles, Now & Next boards, lanyard communication, sensory tools and bespoke options designed around individual needs.

Everything is designed intentionally.

Everything is parent-led.

Everything is tactile-first.

I continue to design Calmii® from lived experience — listening to families, schools and the people who use the products, and constantly asking:

How can we make communication easier, more accessible and more meaningful?