A First Step Toward Sensory-Inclusive Education
Periods are tough. For 10 million autistic girls,
they are a sensory nightmare.
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Traditional period education, built for neurotypical kids, lacks the sensory-first approach autistic girls need. Without the right tools, this natural milestone can turn into a traumatic experience.
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At Nana, we believe periods are never just periods. They are powerful milestones that deserve understanding, support, and dignity for every girl. That is why we created Ruby Blooms, the world’s first sensory-first period guide for autistic girls.
Built for sensory sensitivity.
Backed by science.
Rooted in Research
Developed in partnership with occupational therapists and autism experts, Ruby Blooms uses tactile, auditory, visual, and olfactory tools to support emotional understanding, motor planning, body awareness and routine-building.
Every page of Ruby Blooms is designed to address the challenges autistic girls face during puberty, including sensory overload, interoceptive confusion, cognitive rigidity, and difficulties with social-emotional decoding.
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Sensory Processing & SPD (Serrano, 2016; Ricon et al., 2017)
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Interoception & Emotional Awareness (Mahler, 2016; Craig, 2002–2009)
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Dyspraxia & Motor Learning (Larson et al., 2007)
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Olfactory Sensitivity in ASD (Sweigert et al., 2020)
Sensory-rich interactions help girls understand periods beyond diagrams or definitions. Each section of Ruby Blooms provides an immersive, tactile experience that mirrors real-life sensations in a safe, calm environment.
What they’ll experience:
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Touch: Textures that mimic bloating, ovulation, pads, and blood consistency
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Sound: Buttons that play wrapper tearing, adhesive peeling, and trash bin noises
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Smell: Scratch-and-sniff menstrual scents for odor anticipation
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Sight: Raised visuals and color gradients that reinforce body awareness
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Interoception: Pages that simulate sensations like fullness, wetness, and fatigue
These sensory tools help girls become familiar with menstruation before it happens building comfort and predictability.
Teaching the body.
Supporting the mind.
From handling a pad to recognizing emotions, Ruby Blooms helps girls navigate puberty’s most challenging transitions. It teaches not only what to do but also how it feels.​
Key learning experiences include:
• Pad management: Step-by-step visuals and sounds simulate unwrapping, sticking, removing, and discarding pads.
• Body mapping: Girls push simulated menstrual blood through a 3D uterus model.
• Routine support: Visual checklists, thought bubbles, and a movable clock build habits like changing pads every 3–4 hours.
• Emotion recognition: Magnetic faces help girls practice identifying emotions like stress, pain, and happiness.
These tools help bridge the gap between sensation and meaning a common struggle for autistic individuals.
Puberty can be overwhelming for any girl. For autistic girls,
it can be disorienting, frightening, and even painful. Sensory sensitivities, unfamiliar textures, intense smells, and disruptions to routine can trigger meltdowns or shutdowns.
Ruby Blooms offers anticipatory learning that:
• Helps prevent sensory overload
• Provides safe exposure to difficult sensations
• Builds confidence through repetition
• Encourages emotional and physical independence
More than periods.
It’s about dignity, autonomy, and acceptance.
Ruby, the book’s central character, is thoughtfully illustrated with features, expressions, and experiences that girls can relate to. She shows what it feels like to move through puberty as an autistic girl — thoughtfully, carefully, and curiously.
Whether she is navigating new sensations or choosing
a fidget toy to manage stress, Ruby does not lecture.
She simply guides.
Because representation matters, especially when it is sensory, safe, and real.
See how our sensory-first guide for autistic girls has captured attention and inspired conversations across leading media:
Discover the moments that brought Ruby Blooms directly into the community, sparking genuine conversations and meaningful impact:
Dubai Autism Center (DAC):
An interactive event at DAC connecting families, educators, and advocates with the sensory-focused approach of Ruby Blooms.
Valens Clinic:​
A dedicated session where specialists, parents, and girls with autism explored the sensory-first guidebook together.
Ruby Blooms is more than a book.
It is a sensory roadmap for one of life’s most important transitions.
