EmphaSIze April 2024: Neurodiversity and Neuroscience
By Sensory Integration Education, 1 April 2024
Welcome to the April issue of EmphaSIze where this month we're focusing on Neurodiversity and Neuroscience!
Following on from last month's Neurodiversity Celebration Week, in this month's EmphaSIze we've put together useful information, research, articles, books, and product ideas to help better inform ourselves about neurodiversity so that we can put into practice actions to be more inclusive in schools, clinics and when working with clients.
We also have some exciting news about a new service we've launched for the education sector - Sensory Inclusive Schools! Read our news article below to find out more about how schools and people working in a school setting can benefit from signing up to this service.
News & Features
Introducing Our New Sensory Inclusive Schools Service!
Calling all professionals who work in the education sector! We have some exciting news we’ve been looking forward to sharing with you – the launch of our new Sensory Inclusive Schools (SIS) service.
SIS provides comprehensive support to schools that are looking to enhance their inclusive education practices. We’ve designed affordable packages for Teaching Staff, SENCOs, Specialist Teachers and professionals who work with schools such as Occupational Therapists, Counsellors and Speech and Language Therapists.
The SIS training will help you to understand and work with a student's unique sensory profile, unlock barriers to learning and address challenges such as reduced educational attainment and school refusal.
Find out more about the SIS service here!
We’ve also put together a free downloadable guide ‘Sensory Based Behaviour in the Classroom’ which looks at the impact sensory integration and processing differences can have on students. Included in the guide are examples of how simple changes can be transformative. Click here to download your copy of the guide.
Understanding Neurodiversity - 6 Helpful Resources
Last month welcomed Neurodiversity Celebration Week which is a global initiative challenging stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding neurological differences. Its mission is to change the perception of neurodivergent individuals and to encourage changes for more inclusive environments.
In recognition of this, we’ve put together this blog ‘Understanding Neurodiversity – 6 Helpful Resources’ where we’ve compiled a list of resources – with some specifically addressing sensory sensitivities in neurodivergent individuals – to help better inform ourselves about neurodiversity and be able to put into practice actions to be more inclusive in schools, clinics, and when working with clients.
You can read the full blog here.
Thoughts from a Therapist: Know Better, Do Better
In this month’s Thoughts from a Therapist, Anna Willis takes a look at the challenges we can sometimes face keeping up with the language around neurodiversity. Given the pace it’s evolving at, it’s easy sometimes to make mistakes but we need to remember that it's better to try than to disengage. It’s also important we continue to have open, honest conversations and that we're able to share with someone when they've said something accidentally offensive, whilst at the same time recognising and acknowledging their good intentions.
Congratulations to Our Latest SI Highfliers Scholarship Winner Joanna Pacewicz!
We are pleased to announce the winner of the latest SI Highfliers Scholarship starting in April 2024 is Occupational Therapist, Joanna Pacewicz. We recently caught up with Joanna to find out more about her background, what motivated her to apply for the SI Highfliers Scholarship scheme and her aspirations for the future.
Using Sensory Products to Enhance Daily Living in Children with ADHD with Kozie Clothes
Living with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be challenging, as it affects a person's ability to focus and regulate their emotions and impulsivity, which can also affect their self-esteem. Fortunately, there are various sensory products specially designed to support children with ADHD. These products aim to provide sensory feedback and promote focus, self-regulation and overall well-being.
This guest blog post by Kozie Clothes shares insights into the transformative power of sensory products for children with ADHD as well as the sensory processing differences that are often overlooked in individuals with ADHD.
Also see:
World Autism Acceptance Week is back (2 – 8 April 2024)
Tesco Mobile launches industry-first ‘Sensory Support Boxes’ initiative
Warwickshire Libraries secure funding for sensory mobile library
Underwater-themed sensory room at care home wins award
Schoolchildren across Berkshire and Oxfordshire get mental health rucksacks
Resources
We've curated guides, tutorials, books and products to help better inform ourselves about neurodiversity and better support our neurodivergent clients including:
- What Does It Mean to Be Neurodivergent?
- Reducing Sensory Overload for Neurodivergent Individuals
- Navigating Autism: 9 Mindsets For Helping Kids on the Spectrum
- Square Me, Round World: Stories of growing up in a world not built for you
See our latest resources ideas here.
SI Research Digest
Easy-to-read summaries of all the latest SI research papers, as well as key papers on our theme of neurodiversity and neuroscience. Click here to view the summaries of the research and access the direct links to the published papers, including:
- The Impact of Visual and Auditory Distractions on the Performance of Neurodiverse Students in Virtual Reality (VR) Environments
- Predictors of Health-Related Quality of Life in Neurodivergent Children: A Systematic Review
- Factors Associated with Mathematical Capacity in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder
- Altered Somatosensory Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Upcoming Courses and Webinars
We have a number of live webinars that take throughout the year covering a broad range of SI-related topics. Below is a snapshot of the live webinars happening in April and May or click here to view a summary of all the upcoming live events.
All these live webinars are available to you by signing up to our Lifelong Learning Programme or can be purchased as individual courses:
- Using the Adult/Adolescent Sensory History (ASH) in Clinical Practice - 8 April 2024
- Sensory Approaches to Supporting Student Wellbeing and Engagement - 12 April 2024
- FREE Webinar: An Introduction to Using the Sensory Processing Measure 2 (SPM-2) and Quick Tips in Clinical Practice - 15 April 2024
- Introduction to Sensory Integration and Yoga - 22 April 2024
- Developmental Motor Apraxia in Autism - 1 May 2024
Latest Job Listings
Are you thinking of making a career move this year? Check out the latest job listings including:
Specialist Occupational Therapist, Meath School, Ottershaw, Surrey, UK
Occupational Therapist, NC Therapy Services, London, UK
Sensory Developmental Occupational Therapist, Sensory Worx Ltd, County Durham, UK
Discounts & Special Offers
We've negotiated these exciting discounts for our SIE family!
Please quote DISCOUNT CODE SIE20 for 10% discount on Southpaw orders up to £100. Orders must be placed by phone on +44 (0) 115 718 0020.
Please quote DISCOUNT CODE SIE15 for 15% discount on sensooli.com (Excludes membership and advent boxes).
FREE delivery and set-up (worth up to £250, England and Wales only) on purchases of the omiVista+ and a FREE interactive ball games package worth up to £500. To access this special offer, mention you are an SIE Member when placing your order with OMI.
5% DISCOUNT on purchases of 3 items or more. Orders must be placed by phone and mention you are an SIE member to access this special offer when you are placing your order.
Please quote DISCOUNT CODE SIE2210 for 10% discount when ordering from the online Sensory Smart Store.
Would you like to receive EmphaSIze: The Sensory Integration Newsletter in your inbox? JOIN SIE FREE TODAY
Best wishes,
Sensory Integration Education
NB: Sensory Integration Education is not responsible for the content on external websites. Sharing a resource does not imply endorsement by Sensory Integration Education.
