Sensory Integration Education

This month's SI Resources blog is focused on sensory teens and young adults. 

Navigating the teenage years and young adulthood can be challenging and if a young person is dealing with sensory differences in everyday life too, it can feel even more overwhelming. Coping with these challenges requires teens and young adults – and the people around them – to understand their unique sensory needs and find helpful strategies and adaptations in their day-to-day life.

In this month’s blog, we’ve curated articles, guides, books and products to help better inform ourselves of how we can support these individuals.

7 Ways to Support and Empower Sensory Teens - Adolescence can be a time of excitement and growth. But for teens with sensory processing differences, it can come with its own set of obstacles, making it difficult at times for them to process and respond to sensory information in the same way neurotypical teenagers do. In this SIE blog, we look at 7 ways to support and empower these remarkable sensory teens.

Sensory Processing and the Teenage Years - Teenagers are going through new changes and we need to learn how best to support their sensory needs during this time of life This article from Growing Hands-On Kids looks at a number of sensory strategies and sensory activity ideas which as a parent, teacher or therapist can help you foster where they are developmentally and help them through these new situations.

One-to-One Online Coaching with a Sensory Integration Trained Occupational Therapist – if you know a parent or carer who has a child with sensory processing differences, they may be interested in booking a one-to-one online coaching session with one of SIE’s Occupational Therapists trained in Sensory Integration. Whilst this is not an assessment or therapy session, they’ll receive tailored information and advice specific to their child’s or teen’s sensory processing challenges along with practical strategies and actionable insights to support the individual’s development and daily life.

How to Sharpen Executive Functions: Activities to Hone Brain Skills - Executive functioning skills range from working memory to cognitive flexibility to inhibitory control, and beyond. They power our daily functioning, future planning, and mental/physical health. This article from ADDitude contains useful activity suggestions for developing and improving executive function skills in young people.

Resources for Autistic Teenagers – the Know Yourself series from the National Autistic Society offers a comprehensive set of free resources (videos, PDFs, worksheets, etc.) to support autistic teens in understanding what being autistic means to them

What Young Neurodivergent Employees Need to Know about Starting Work and How to Get the Right Support - More people than ever are being diagnosed as neurodivergent. In the UK, conditions including ADHD and autism are estimated to affect 15-20% of the population. This is particularly true for younger people. Surveys show that one in five workers between the ages of 16-24, and as many as one in two, aged 25-34, identify as neurodivergent. According to the UK National Autistic Society, 45% of neurodivergent people have lost or left their job because of challenges due to being misunderstood. This article from The Conversation sets out a number of ways to help a young neurodivergent employee navigate the workplace.

BBC Scotland - The Social - Meet the Young Adults Embracing Neurodiversity - BBC The Social is a digital team based in Glasgow that develops new creative talent from all across Scotland. Here they introduce us to a number of young adults embracing neurodiversity – from Josie who has dyscalculia to Taryam Boyd who was diagnosed with ADHD at 22 and Sarinah O’Donoghue who was diagnosed with autism at 20.

Books and Product Ideas

	A Gobblegark’s Guide to Your Brilliant Neurodivergent Brain This book offers a sense of direction, a route map and a toolkit to the growing number of young people who identify as neurodivergent thinkers. Downloadable worksheets allow them to make this book their own because they can go back to activities as many times as they need, or do them in different ways.
	Emotions for Autism: emotions workbook for older kids and teens  Written by a special education teacher, this workbook* is perfect for older kids and teens on the autism spectrum, in special education or with special needs. The workbook defines different emotions, explores them through activities including role play, and helps students make a connection to real life. The activities can be used in a small group setting, as social skills curriculum in the classroom, or one-on-one with a child.
	Autism & Adolescence – The Way I See It: What Teens and Parents Need to Know Available in paperback from 30th September, Temple Grandin draws on her own experience to deliver an essential guidebook* for guiding and nurturing autistic youth. Including topics such as strategies for non-verbal teens; autism and driving; and preparing for college; Dr Grandin offers do's and don'ts, practical strategies and try-it-now tips, all based on her insider perspective and extensive research.
	Rolling Bag Pouf Available in 3 sizes and 6 different colours, this rolling bag pouf is made of Secondskin® seamless fabric and filled with organic buckwheat husks. This flexible pouf rolls over the body and shapes with a squeeze. Soft, gentle and relaxing, it involves all the senses by smelling the natural filling and listening to the sound of grains moving inside the bag. It has a memory function and shapes with the pressure on hips or back position, reducing muscle stress and tension. It is ideal for deep pressure therapy and a great item for sensory seekers.
	Sensory Jogger Bottoms These sensory jogger bottoms are made from a soft material to suit children and teens who are over-responsive to tactile sensory input and the inside seams have been sewn down to reduce irritations and itchiness.
	Fidget Ring  More than just a fashion statement, this ring is designed as a fidget spinner, offering a valuable outlet for anxiety and stress. Its smooth, soothing spinning motion provides a calming sensation, helping teens and young adults redirect nervous energy and regulate themselves.
*Affiliate link: SIE may earn a commission (at zero cost to you) when you purchase by clicking on an affiliate link. NB: Sensory Integration Education is not responsible for the content on external websites. Sharing a resource does not imply endorsement by Sensory Integration Education.