Sensory processing disorders can be debilitating for those who experience them.

Overstimulation, trouble following directions or focusing attention can make it difficult to engage in day-to-day activities. Formal tests often require these things making it challenging for children with sensory deficits to meet the standards. This online course will expand your knowledge of sensory processing activities and enhance your effectiveness to work with these children!

Learn how to identify which of your clients' shortfalls have a sensory integration foundation and what treatment techniques to use to improve their quality of life.

This workshop will step you through the key components of Sensory Integration (SI) and how you can apply it to your treatment approach with the children you work with in your practice.

Understanding Sensory Integration & Your Client
Discover the neurological foundations of SI, including primary sensory systems, receptors, neurological tracts and brain locations of sensory systems. You’ll dive into how each system is stimulated and types of sensory integration dysfunction associated with each system so you can create a better foundation for treatment.

Assessing & Treating Your Young Client with Sensory Integration
This part of the workshop will show you how to identify behaviors which are sensory and plan treatment strategies to help them more fully participate in school, community and home activities. You'll analyze case studies using a sensory integration frame of reference vs developmental or motor, distinguish between sensory-based and non sensory-based behaviors and categorize observations into sensory processing categories.

Discover various assessments, including how to formulate interview questions for parents/teachers to gain sensory information related to participation in everyday life. You’ll cluster responses into “diagnostic groups” to make them easier to tackle during treatment.

From your various assessments, you’ll be able to design treatment sessions based on Ayres SI principles and create a customized, well-rounded treatment plan. Learn how to analyze sensory aspects of therapy equipment and modify activities to match needs of the child, while developing sensory diets for use at home and school, and sensory stories to enhance participation in daily activities. Writing goals and objectives while measuring progress will be covered as well!

Documentation: Maximizing Reimbursement & Access to Services
Learn how to document progress in functional terms, and write goals and objectives which enable access to services in schools and clinics. This section will cover evaluations, progress and discharge reports, along with maximizing reimbursement for therapy!

Susan B. Young, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is a faculty member for the USC/WPS Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) certification process. She was one of the original researchers for the SIPT under the supervision of Dr. A. Jean Ayres. She has many years of clinical practice including owning Children’s Therapy Group in Kansas City, a multidisciplinary private practice primarily serving children with sensory integration deficits. Dr. Young’s career includes director of OT and PT at Childrens Mercy Hospital, program director of the Occupational Therapy Program at Rockhurst University, and associate professor of OT at Belmont University.

She is an adjunct professor of OT at Belmont University. Graduate (MSOT and OTD) students have gained pediatric competence from Dr. Young’s expertise in the classroom and the lab experiences. She teaches workshops internationally as well as nationally. She is author of “Movement Is Fun”, a program of movement activities for preschool children based on sensory concepts. Click here for information about Susan B. Young.