Sensory Integration Education

Over the last year, the Covid19 pandemic and its ensuing restrictions has forced us as therapists and education professionals to work with clients and colleagues via video calls, emails and socially distanced, outdoor meetups. Nearly 40% of the health and education professionals we surveyed reported that the toughest challenge presented by the pandemic, in relation to work, was being unable to deliver face-to-face therapy or support. Over a quarter said that the new ways of working, or the inability to work under the pandemic restrictions, had had a negative impact on their mental health.

Of course, lockdown life presented some refreshing changes alongside the restriction. Just under half of the individuals with sensory challenges and their parents and carers that we surveyed said they appreciated the ability to stick to routines at home. In our survey, some professionals preferred working from home and ditching the commute, as well as having more time to plan their work and for personal development. You can read our full report Sensory Challenges During a Pandemic: Providing and Accessing Therapy, which includes suggested areas for future research. 

As communities move forward, our services continue to adapt and incorporate the best of what we have learned under ‘lockdown’. Many of us want to hold onto this opportunity to adjust our working week, to incorporate time for planning and professional development, and to build on those skills and methods used to maintain those important relationships with colleagues and contacts. In this biggest challenge to our services, we have been hugely creative, flexible and forward-looking. We want to continue to draw on this mindset as we rebuild, and possibly remodel, our professional practices.

During this last year, our thoughts have often been with our members and colleagues on the frontline of the fight with Covid19. My fellow directors and I announced back in January that, in gratitude for the extraordinary work being done by the NHS, HSCNI and HSE, we were offering these staff free Professional or Therapist level membership to Sensory Integration Education. NHS, HSCNI and HSE occupational therapists; physiotherapists; and speech and language therapists can enjoy free Therapist Membership. All other health service staff can enjoy free Professional Membership. 

We have transitioned very smoothly to our new higher education partner, Sheffield Hallam University. Our world-first MSc pathway in Sensory Integration is fully accessible online and validated by one of the country’s largest allied health professions education providers and the UK University of the Year for Teaching Quality 2020. This partnership with Sheffield Hallam University assures the continuous innovation of our postgraduate education programmes for the global community of therapists wishing to qualify as SI Practitioners and Advanced Practitioners and for the myriad of professionals who desire to learn about SI for their continuing professional development. In December we celebrated the success of 50-plus new Advanced Practitioners in Sensory Integration who qualified in 2020. We are thrilled that many more therapists are joining the pathway, starting their journey to advanced practitioner and postgraduate qualifications in SI this year. 

We were disappointed that we would not be able to meet up in person at our annual autumn conference, last November. But in the spirit of innovation, by moving it virtually, we joined our 2,300 delegates at our first-ever virtual SIE Conference. Our theme, which needs no explanation, was ‘An Extraordinary Year’. We are very grateful to our impressive international line-up of speakers. We had video presentations on the latest research as well as discussions from Shelly Lane, Anita Bundy, Sarah Schoen, Sue Delport, Maureen Bennie, Carol Stock Kranowitz and Winnie Dunn. The challenge is now to top that this coming autumn!

For the last 25 years, SIE has attracted internationally esteemed experts in SI and related fields to teach on our courses or host fascinating talks to challenge our members’ thinking around SI theory and practice. In that vein, in 2020, we launched our Masterclass Series of live, online lectures by highly experienced professionals, focusing on a specialist subject and offering you insights on their deep, practical knowledge of that field. 

Our inaugural Masterclasses were: “How to use the SPD Nosology: Clinical Understanding and Application” by Dr. Sarah Schoen, PhD, OTR/L, Director of Research, STAR Institute; “Sensory Integration/Processing and Sense of Self” by Virginia Spielmann, MSOT, Executive Director, STAR Institute; and “Is it ADHD, SPD or Both?” by Mim Ochsenbein, MSW, OTR/L, Director of Education, STAR Institute. The videos of these sessions are all available to purchase now and we’ll be announcing our next series of Masterclasses very soon. 

It is good to know that you are appreciating the learning from these Masterclasses. Even Carol Stock Kranowitz wrote a note to us stating: “Thank you for allowing me to listen to Virginia’s splendid presentation about Sense of Self. As always when I listen to her, I learn so much. You are bringing wonderful speakers to your virtual podium!”

Our suite of online CPD courses and live online webinars continues to grow. It was particularly exciting to host the world’s first live online presentation by OT and esteemed parenting author Meg Faure, of her Infant Sense Integration Training courses. If you missed these, the video recordings are still available for a limited time. Other short online CPD courses launched recently include Designing Your Own ASI Space and Supporting Individuals with Feeding Difficulties. We have other pertinent topics launching soon -so watch this space.

As a not-for-profit organisation, providing accessible courses and information to raise awareness and understanding of SI difficulties - and the support available to those with sensory difficulties - is core to our values. In addition to our CPD courses and MSc pathway for professionals, we have developed a series of accessibly priced online courses aimed at anyone who would benefit from an initial understanding of what SI is, what sensory issues can look like in terms of behaviour and engagement and ideas for supporting sensory needs. These courses are adapted from our popular our ‘Understanding Sensory Processing and Integration for Parents and Carers’ course, to make it specific to these two populations: ‘Understanding Sensory Processing and Integration in Teenagers and Young Adults - A Guide for Parents and Carers’; and ‘Understanding Sensory Processing and Integration in Adults with Learning Disabilities’. We invested in making these courses of the quality you have come to expect from SIE and have determined to make them available at only £5 to cover hosting and administration costs so as many people as possible can benefit.

One final thought: As well as being proud of the amazing team here at SIE and excited about our offering for SI students and researchers with Sheffield Hallam University, we are so proud of our SI community of practice. When at times it has felt like the whole world was shut down, we have heard so many examples of how you found innovative, flexible and creative ways to continue to connect with and offer care to your clients. You have been inspired and been inspiring to others. Thank you. 

Rosalind Rogers

Chair of Board of Directors