SIE Virtual Annual Conference: Foundations and Futures
Save the date: 12-16 October 2026
30+ years • 100,000+ learners • 5-star Trustpilot • 1,700+ reviews
Do you want to make universal, sensory-informed changes for access and participation?
Do you want the clinical practitioner pathway through postgraduate training?
Or are you looking for ongoing CPD without overwhelm and ongoing support?
For professionals who want practical, universal approaches that help many people across settings.
Learn practical ways to spot sensory differences and make simple changes that help people take part - at school, work, home, and in the community.
For eligible healthcare professionals who want advanced clinical reasoning and a practitioner postgraduate pathway (PGCert, PGDip, MSc).
This is structured, rigorous training designed to support therapy practice and professional development. In partnership with Sheffield Hallam University.
CPD courses you can use straight away.
Short, evidence-informed training for therapists and professionals supporting sensory needs.
Answer a few questions and we’ll point you to the best course for your role. Takes about 2 minutes.
A Free Course
We introduce you to the eight sensory systems and learn a clear definition of sensory processing and integration. You'll explore how sensory processing differences can present challenges and see examples of how they impact daily life.
Free
Quick answers about sensory integration, sensory processing, and our training routes.
Sensory integration, also known as sensory processing, refers to the neurological process by which the brain receives, organises, and interprets sensory information from the body and environment. This process helps us experience, understand, and respond appropriately to sensory inputs.
Sensory integration involves senses such as:
It is an automatic process essential for everyday activities like dressing, eating, moving, socialising, learning, and working.
Sensory integration develops naturally through typical childhood activities, but some individuals experience difficulties processing sensory information, which can affect behaviour, learning, and daily participation.
Sensory integration difficulties (sometimes called sensory processing disorder or SPD) can be seen in individuals with various conditions, including autism, ADHD, and developmental coordination disorder.
The concept was first developed by Dr A Jean Ayres in the 1960s-70s, who defined it as:
“The neurological process that organises sensation from one’s own body and from the environment and makes it possible to use the body effectively with the environment.” (Ayres, 1972)
Sensory Integration Therapy (Ayres Sensory Integration®) is a specialised, evidence-based therapy provided by qualified practitioners to help individuals with sensory integration challenges.
For more detailed information, you can visit https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/what-is-si
The term Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is sometimes used in the US, but not usually in the UK. We use the term sensory integration and processing differences.
If you're wondering whether your child has sensory processing difficulties, here are some key points to consider based on sensory integration principles:
Useful links
If you need specific guidance or support, consulting a sensory integration practitioner is recommended. They can provide an individualised assessment and intervention plan tailored to your child's needs.
Sensory processing differences can be assessed by qualified Sensory Integration (SI) Practitioners.
For more information or to find a qualified therapist, you can visit:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/find-an-si-therapist
Ayres’ Sensory Integration® (ASI) is a theory and therapeutic approach developed by Dr A Jean Ayres in the late 1960s and 1970s. Here is an overview:
Definition:
ASI is a neurological process that organises sensation from one’s own body and from the environment, making it possible to use the body effectively within the environment (Ayres, 1972).
Core Concept:
It explains how the brain takes in sensory information from multiple senses (vision, auditory, tactile, gustatory, olfactory, proprioception, vestibular, and interoception), processes and integrates this information, then produces appropriate responses that enable participation in daily activities like dressing, eating, moving, learning, and socialising.
Development:
Sensory integration develops naturally during childhood through ordinary activities. However, some individuals experience difficulties in processing and integrating sensory information, which can affect behaviour, learning, and participation.
Therapeutic Approach:
ASI therapy is a structured, evidence-based intervention carried out by qualified sensory integration practitioners (occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, or physiotherapists with specialised postgraduate training). It includes carefully designed activities that provide sensory input in a way that supports the brain’s ability to process and integrate sensations.
Fidelity and Adaptation:
ASI therapy follows specific principles and fidelity measures to ensure effectiveness, but practitioners creatively adapt interventions to fit different clinical settings and client needs.
Legacy:
Dr Ayres was an occupational therapist and educational psychologist whose work forms the foundation for sensory integration therapy used worldwide today.
You can find detailed information about sensory integration and Ayres’ Sensory Integration® here:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/what-is-si
If you want to explore training in sensory integration visit:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/postgraduate-courses
Sensory integration therapy may help individuals with autism who experience sensory processing difficulties.
Understand Sensory Needs: Recognise that individuals may be over-responsive, under-responsive, or have mixed sensory processing differences affecting their comfort, focus, and participation.
Create Sensory-Inclusive Environments: