While the holidays might be full of fun and family gatherings, they also come with nagging feelings of dread for those navigating sensory processing disorder (SPD). You might already feel the tightness settle between your shoulder blade just thinking about…  The embarrassment when your child doesn’t want to do what the rest of the family does. The complaints from cousins that your child is too rough. Or your child wiggling in their seat at the holiday meal rattling everything on the table and ultimately begging to leave. And it makes you a little sad that your child’s overwhelm takes aw ..read more

If your child has sensory processing disorder (SPD) and goes to school, you’ve officially got a big title: ADVOCATE. Michelle Morris, parent of a child with a Sensory Processing Disorder and SPD advocate puts it this way, “We are our children's only full-time advocate. Our kids need us to learn as much about their disorders as we can. They need us to understand what they are going through, every day. They need us to feel how frightening and chaotic their world can be. Above all else, they need us to be their advocates. To say, ‘No more’ when it needs to be said. To say, ‘You can do it, I know ..read more

You finally get a diagnosis of sensory processing disorder and you immediately want to know how to treat it! Every parent wants to eliminate anything that makes life harder for their child. Or, you might wonder if this is just something they will grow out of. But understanding the treatment of sensory processing disorder starts by understanding that it’s a brain-based difference in how the brain and body work together to take in and understand information from the senses. The neurons are different. Much like everyone has a different personality. Since it is a neurological difference, a sensor ..read more

If you’ve been there, you know the feeling all too well. You feel it coming the moment you enter the crowded store. Your child looks irritated by the noise right away. And sure enough, it doesn’t take long for that initial agitation to turns into a full meltdown. You barely notice your burning cheeks as you abandon your cart and rush out of the store with your screaming child. And the big emotions don’t stop when you’re safely back in the car. You know better than to try to talk. So you give your child some quiet time in the car, and your shoulders begin to relax as you hear the meltdown windi ..read more

Nothing says back to school like the overflowing school supply aisles and commercials showing amped-up kids in new jeans and backpacks.The annual ritual to kick off the school year includes getting ready with the right supplies and clothing. However, for autistic teens, back-to-school shopping is a little more complicated than the supply list sent from school. The main challenge being – find the right clothing. You need to find clothing for your autistic teen that not only meets their sensory needs but also looks good. Don’t worry, it’s possible… Keep reading to get some ideas to make back-to ..read more

The popularity of weighted blankets shows how much people love calming deep pressure. Everyone is catching on to what those with sensory challenges related to anxiety, autism, ADHD, or just sensory sensitivity have known for a long time. The pressure from a hug, weighted blanket, or compression clothing not only feels good. It helps to reduce anxiety and overactivity. Wouldn’t it be nice to get that calming effect all the time? Well it's possible with your clothing.  In fact, deep pressure clothing can be a powerful part of a sensory program during everyday activities. For this reason, cl ..read more

It’s a mistake to keep using the same self-regulation techniques meant for kids on your growing teen. Your teen might no longer want to jump on a trampoline or depend on you to sit with them through a meltdown. But, your role is still absolutely critical in bridging their transition to becoming more independent with sensory self-regulation. Promoting self-regulation in them now will only benefit them in the future.  You’ll find outlined in this article, 3 easy ways to promote self-regulation in your teen.  What is Sensory Regulation in Teens?  Sensory regulation is defined as u ..read more

When you live with someone with sensory processing disorder or autism, it’s easy to get into routines and stick to what works.  Home becomes a refuge and a place of reassuring predictability.  But, as we saw in a year where everyone stayed home,  it quickly gets boring and depressing to see the same people and do the things day after day. We all need to get out and do new things. Even if autism or sensory processing differences make this feel a little more challenging.  It’s time to break free, have a little fun, and make some family memories. You deserve it. Your family ne ..read more

In order to support our learners/kiddos with special sensory needs, we must first understand that sensory integration provides a strong foundation for higher order thinking, complex learning, and behaviour regulation. For neurotypical individuals,  sensory integration occurs with ease and without awareness. For our learners and kiddos with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities or comorbidities, such as Developmental Disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, Rhett Syndrome, etc., this process requires a significant amount of effort ..read more

Why is clothing such a common complaint for those with sensory sensitivity? It’s easy to be frustrated by sensory-based clothing battles when you feel like getting dressed, especially when choosing an outfit should be an easy task for your teen. Aside from making you cringe, your teen once again wearing the same beloved and possibly tattered old shirt leads to other hassles: like negative comments from peers, constantly doing laundry to prevent stains and smell, the list goes on. Not to mention, battles each morning over what to wear means everyone is running late and starting the day off stre ..read more