These resources will help parents understand the sensory side of autism:
(see also the section on eating issues)
General sensory processing information
- An excellent webinar on sensory processing and how to help your child
- Sensory differences and autism
- Sensory issues and autism
- Sensory seekers and avoiders
- Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) checklist
- What sensory overload feels like
Creating a sensory diet
- Sensory profile checklist
- Creating a sensory diet for your child
- Sensory diet treatment: what you need to know
- Sample sensory diet
- Sensory Mark Making
- Messy Play
Stimming (self stimulatory behaviour)
Interoception
- Interoception and processing issues
- Kelly Mahler is an expert on interoception. She has a range of books and courses. Click here for her website.
Vestibular activities
Proprioceptive activities
- Proprioceptive activities
- Heavy work: keep your kids moving (a post about proprioception)
Sensory lending libraries
These are great resources to ‘try before you buy’ with sensory equipment. Jigsaw, Gympanzees and WECIL are in Bristol, while Cerebra is a national charity.
- Jigsaw Thornbury
- Gympanzees
- Cerebra
- WECIL‘s 5-12 children’s activity group also now has a lending library for members. Email rachel.smyth@wecil.co.uk to enquire about this.
Other resources
- Sensory supports from The Autism Page
- Occupational Therapy demonstration
- Loren Snow’s Autism Academy has a lot of videos about the senses
Some useful books
- The Out-of-sync Child: Recognising and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder, by Carol Stock Kranowitz
- Living Sensationally, by Winnie Dunn
- Interoception: The Eighth Sensory System, by Kelly Mahler
- Self Regulation and Mindfulness Activities for Sensory Processing Disorder: Creative Strategies to Help Children Focus and Remain Calm, by Stephanie Foster
Occupational therapy options
bibic
bibic are based in Langport, which is near Taunton. They do a wide range of screeners and assessments. With their full two day assessment, they will carry out a thorough assessment of your child on the first day and then have you come back on the second day to go through their comprehensive report. They will also give you some simple therapies to do at home.
The cost is around £600 but they do have a payment plan. You can get funding from charities like Boparan Charitable Trust or other sources. The assessment is very useful if you are waiting assessment for ASD for your child. It will give you some clear answers about what your child needs from a sensory perspective, their learning style and more. Some schools will accept the report and put into use their suggested strategies.