Sensory Integration Education

We're sharing 12 Days of SI Inspiration again this year to brighten your December days. In case you don't follow us on social media, here are our inspo-moments this year: 

"My support teacher understood and looked out for me when I was overwhelmed by sensory input and she would give me a moment alone with headphones on. It was a small act every so often that was a big part of how I got through school." - Individual with sensory integration/processing difficulties

"I once met a young person who presented as clinically depressed, angry and giving up on the world. Through assessment and talking, it became clear he was constantly overwhelmed by his environment and fatigue was bringing him down. He was fed up of always feeling like he couldn't manage to do everything he was capable of. School was struggling to understand him...

"...We worked together to create advice to school and ways of minimising sensory input and creating resources he could use independently, as well as with support, to help him feel better. He now does not present with clinical depression and is managing his anger and behaviour more positively at school. School is understanding and spotting his warning signs and offering better support." - Occupational Therapist

"I am very grateful to my current therapist who helped me to accept and manage my sensory challenges. Before this, my sensory challenges were attributed to mental health issues alone (and it was assumed they could simply be controlled by pharmaceutical measures). Now I have specific strategies and resources I can use to manage my sensory challenges and feel more grounded." - Individual with sensory integration/processing difficulties

"I worked with a boy with SI difficulties. He was on the go, could not focus, climbed the wall at home (literally). After some sessions with me, we had a short break. When he came back to me he was like a different child. Calm and able to engage in a variety of tasks to build a gross and fine motor skills. I was genuinely blown away by how different he was." - Occupational Therapist

"I have used sensory processing strategies to help a lady with dementia who was having outbursts of temper. Identified areas of visual and aural sensory overload in her environments and suggested quiet times to prevent overload. Also use of work-like activities to provide calming proprioceptive input." - Occupational Therapist

"I have helped a little boy with his auditory sensitivity and now the family can go out for a walk without it being hugely distressing for them all." - Occupational Therapist

"I have just been learning about sensory integration difficulties this year. A friend suggested my son might have issues relating to SI. This is helping us as a family to understand the difficulties my son has with motor development and to learn more about what we can do to help." - Parent of a child with sensory integration/processing difficulties

"I have provided sensory activity advice to parents and carers who gained hope and direction on how to help their child cope with sensory stimuli and live happier lives together." - Occupational Therapist

"By adapting my classroom as an SI-themed room within a classroom setting my students with severe ASD are all able to regulate themselves with support to access their curriculum. Other professionals on seeing this have adapted their own rooms to the same effect. It has changed the delivery of the curriculum in our and other schools." - Teacher with a specialism in OT & SI

"I have supported parents to learn strategies and alter routines to minimise the impact of sensory challenges. Small changes, like changing around his bedroom and doing calming activities before bed, had a big positive impact." Occupational Therapist

"Using sensory integration has enabled me to help children to better regulate themselves so that they can better access activities at home, school and in the community." - Occupational Therapist

"Our amazing OT (trained to level 3 in Sensory Integration Therapy). Her input has been life-changing for our son and for our whole family." - Parent of a child with sensory integration/processing difficulties

We hope you enjoyed these moments of SI inspiration and we'd love to hear your own: you can email us at [email protected]