EmphaSIze August 2023: Sensory Teens & Young Adults

By Sensory Integration Education, 1 August 2023

Children playing outside. Title reads EmphaSIze August 2023: Sensory Teens & Young Adults


Sensory Teens & Young Adults

Welcome to the August issue of EmphaSIze! This month we're focusing on sensory teens and young adults. Adolescence can be a time of excitement and growth. But for teens with sensory processing differences, it can come with its own set of challenges. Sensory input, such as sights, sounds, textures, and smells, can often become overpowering and lead to anxiety or meltdowns.

In this month’s issue, we’ve included lots of useful information, articles and resources to help us understand more about how to support sensory teens and young adults while creating an environment that nurtures their strengths and allows them to navigate the world with confidence and resilience.


News & Features

FREE Course: Your Guide to Qualifying as a Sensory Integration Practitioner


Hot off the press, we’re delighted to bring you news of a new FREE course from SIE: Your Guide to Qualifying as a Sensory Integration Practitioner. Featuring Stephanie Ruppel, OT, Advanced SI Practitioner and Postgraduate Education Director at SIE and Penny Stewart, OT and Lead for Academic Programmes at SIE, this course addresses the most common questions we receive about becoming a Sensory Integration Practitioner.

On completion of this course, you’ll have a clear understanding of what our Postgraduate Pathway entails as well as eligibility requirements for the training, the learning tools we provide and the benefits you'll gain from studying with us. Click here to find out more.

NB Before undertaking the course, we recommend watching our free course for therapists called "Transform Your Practice with Sensory Integration." This course will help you grasp the concept of SI and understand how incorporating an SI-informed approach can positively impact your practice.

Diamond Issue of SensorNet Magazine Out Now!



This year’s issue of SensorNet is here and can you believe it's our Diamond issue? That's 60 issues since our first much slimmer issue back in May 1996! Our Diamond issue is packed full of inspiring and thought-provoking articles and features including our Big Interview with Hannah Daly, Occupational Therapist and author of Knowing No Boundaries: A Memoir of My Life With Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Sensory Processing Disorder and Dr Gillian Harris, Consultant Clinical Psychologist from the Birmingham Food Refusal Service, who shares her knowledge of ARFID and sensory processing difficulties.

Click here to read SensorNet Issue 60 if you are an ASIP Member or holder of SIE’s Unlimited Annual Pass. Or if you'd like to read SensorNet but aren't yet an ASIP member or a holder of our Unlimited Annual Pass, find out more here.

Sensory Snapshot: Neurodivergent Teens & School Holidays


The school summer holidays are upon us! For teens with sensory processing differences, the long summer break can bring its own set of challenges – particularly in coming up with ideas on how to spend their time.

In her latest Sensory Snapshot blog, Lelanie Brewer, SIE’s Lead for CPD, looks at how parents can support and help their sensory teens make the most of the school holidays, whether at home or away! Find out more by reading the full blog here.

Sign Up to Our New Polyvagal Theory Course Featuring Interview with Dr Stephen Porges


Don’t miss out on this special opportunity to hear directly from Dr Stephen Porges, the creator of polyvagal theory, in our new on-demand webinar 'Polyvagal Theory and Sensory Processing: Creating a Sense of Safetyavailable from 25th September.

As well as our exclusive interview with Dr Stephen Porges, the course features sessions with: Dr Natalie Hadiprodjo, an OT, counsellor and lecturer in play therapy at Deakin University, in conversation with Kim Elter, OT and Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner; and Karen Forest, Kim Elter, and Kate Broughton discuss how the principles of polyvagal theory influence their work as Sensory Integration Practitioners. Learn more about polyvagal theory and how and why it is relevant to your work as a Sensory Integration Practitioner by booking your spot here.


Hear from Industry Experts at Our Online Annual Conference in September!


Have you registered your place yet at our free online conference in September? The theme of this year’s event is Sensory Inclusion: Empowering All. We have a great speaker programme lined up including our keynote speakers: Virginia Spielmann (Transforming Health and Wellness Outcomes through the Sensory Domain); Kim Barthel (Neuroaffirmative Approaches to Supporting People with Sensory Processing Differences); and Morénike Giwa Onaiwu (Neurodiversity, Equality and Inclusion). To find out more or to book your place, visit our conference page here.

Also see:

Sensory tennis proves a big hit in helping disabled people get active

Break-through service for autistic youngsters with an eating disorder

Government responds to the Rapid Review of patient safety in mental health hospitals, with new measures to tackle abuse

American Retailer Walmart Adds Sensory-Friendly Hours at US Stores Nationwide


Resources


We've curated guides, tutorials, books and products including:

  • Sensory Processing and the Teenage Years
  • Sensory Meltdowns in Adolescents and Adults
  • 10 Brilliant Sensory Activities for Autistic Teenagers
  • Nurturing Your Autistic Young Person
  • The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods

See our latest resources ideas here.

SI Research Digest: August 2023


Easy-to-read summaries of all the latest SI research papers, as well as key papers on our theme of sensory teens and young adults. Click here to view the summaries of the research and access the direct links to the published papers, including:

  • Exploring the Mediating Role of Executive Function in the Relationship between Aerobic Fitness and Academic Achievement in Adolescents
  • A Comparison of the Content and Nature of Worries of Autistic and Neurotypical Young People as They Transition from School
  • Sensory Processing Difficulties in Children and Adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive and Anxiety Disorders
  • A Sensory Integration Intervention in the School Setting to Support Performance and Participation: A Multiple-Baseline Study


Upcoming Courses & Events


We've been busy putting together these amazing events for both professionals and parents and carers. Click here to view a summary of the upcoming live events and instant access courses or select one of the highlighted courses below:

Latest Job Listings


Are you thinking of making a career move this year? Check out the latest job listings including:

Find your dream role here...


Discounts & Special Offers

woman holding her glasses looking surprised

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.


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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.