Sensory Integration Education

Sensory Inclusion

Welcome to the October issue of EmphaSIze! With another successful SIE Conference behind us, the focus of this month’s issue continues with the conference theme of Sensory Inclusion and looking at ways of exploring inclusive and neuro-affirmative perspectives in sensory services.

In this month's issue, we've included lots of useful information, articles and resources to help us understand more about the benefits of sensory inclusion and the importance of creating an inclusive and accepting environment for neurodivergent individuals that helps them feel understood and supported.

Finally, keep your eyes peeled as we’ve exciting news of a new service we’ll be launching for parents and carers later this month!

News & Features

Highlights of Last Month's SIE Annual Virtual Conference 'Sensory Inclusion: Empowering All’

Over 8,000 attendees participated in the SIE Conference hosted last month. The event delved into the ‘Sensory Inclusion: Empowering All’ theme, focusing on co-creating sensory support and exploring inclusive and neuro-affirmative perspectives in sensory services. Participants included therapists, professionals, families and individuals seeking insight and understanding from all corners of the world.

As a not-for-profit training organisation, Sensory Integration Education is committed to promoting awareness and understanding of sensory differences and our free online week-long conference is one of the ways in which we do this. Click here to read the full round-up of the conference.

Sensory Snapshot: Sensory Friendly Schools

Our physical environment has a strong impact on all of us, especially those of us with sensory needs, and schools are no exception!

In her latest Sensory Snapshot blog, Lelanie Brewer, SIE’s Lead for CPD, discusses the importance of creating a sensory-friendly environment in schools for pupils and staff and suggests some ways this can be achieved. Read the full blog here.

SIE Launches a Study Companion App!

At SIE, we understand the need for accessible and convenient learning, which is why we have created our new study companion app – the Sensory Integration Education App! So whether you're a busy therapist on our postgraduate SI Practitioner Pathway or a health professional interested in understanding more about sensory integration on your daily commute, this app enables you to learn from anywhere. All you need is an internet connection, and you're ready to start learning.

Available to download at Google Play or App Store, the app also provides a dedicated 'communities' tab to allow you to connect with fellow learners and educators. Find out more here.

Our Thoughts from a Therapist Series is Back!

We are thrilled to welcome back our regular contributor, Anna Willis, Specialist Occupational Therapist and Advanced Practitioner in Sensory Integration, with her Thoughts From a Therapist series. 

Thoughts From a Therapist is a regular series of articles written by Anna about something that piqued her professional interest or inspired her in some way over the past month. Anna has over ten years of experience working with children and adults with a range of learning disabilities and autism and set up her own OT business Active Play Therapies in 2014. In this month's article, Anna discusses concrete operations and communications needs. Read the full article here.

Exploring Sensory Informed Care in the Context of Neurodiversity Affirming Care

Hot on the heels of our annual conference, we’re delighted to announce that one of our keynote speakers, Virginia Spielmann, will be hosting a live webinar next month that looks at how priniciples of sensory health and sensory-informed care matter in the broader context and what this means in the context of neurodiversity affirming care.

Virigina will break down the essential ingredients of sensory-informed supports for neurodivergent individuals and their families and discuss the necessary professional tools and skills needed to provide neurodiversity affirming care. Click here to find out more and book your place!

Also see:

National Autistic Society Launches New Duke of Edinburgh Community Practice

Devon and Cornwall Police Force Helps Support Neurodiverse Student Officers

Neurodiverse Entrepreneur Using AI to Help Small Businesses

Royal Bolton Hospital is Home to an All-New Sensory Area

Resources

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

• What is Neuroaffirmative Practice
• The Challenges Neurodivergent People Face Receiving Care
• 'There's No One Way to Be Autistic'
• Wonderfully Wired Brains: An Introduction to the World of Neurodiversity

See our latest resources ideas here.

SI Research Digest: October 2023

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

• Occupational Therapists’ Role in Educating Caregivers on Pediatric Sensory Interventions Guided by Neurodiversity Principles
• Moving from Disorder to Difference: A Systematic Review of Recent Language Use in Autism Research
• Co-occurring Physical Health Challenges in Neurodivergent Children and Young People: A Topical Review and Recommendation

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:

• Introduction to Sensory Integration and Yoga – 16 October 2023

• Sensory Integration Assessment and Intervention in Eating Disorders – 16 October 2023

• Sensory Processing, Autism, Anxiety and Trauma – 25 October 2023

• An Introduction to Using the Adult/Adolescent Sensory History (ASH) in Clinical Practice – 31 October 2023

• Sensory Integration and Schools – 1 November 2023

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.

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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.