Our Sensory Family April 2024: Understanding Neurodiversity
Understanding Neurodiversity
Welcome to the April issue of Our Sensory Family where this this month we're focusing on Understanding Neurodiversity!
The experiences of a neurodivergent child or young person navigating the world are different to that of a neurotypical one. Sensory sensitivities are typically more common in neurodivergent individuals who will often talk about or describe the sensation of feeling overwhelmed. This means they may be unable to modulate their activity level or their level of excitement. For example, noises may hurt their ears and bright lights may disturb them.
In this month’s newsletter, we've put together useful information, articles, books and product ideas to help us understand and celebrate neurodiversity as well as being able to better support our neurodivergent family members – especially those with sensory sensitivities.
We also have some exciting news about a service we've launched for schools - Sensory Inclusive Schools! Read our news article below to find out more about how your own child’s school could benefit from signing up to this service.
News & Features
Transforming Education with Sensory Inclusive Schools!
School can be a challenging environment for children, especially those with sensory processing differences and additional needs. From noisy classrooms to uncomfortable uniforms, or activities that are challenging for children with gross and fine motor difficulties, the school day can be overwhelming. If your child is experiencing difficulties in the classroom or the school has mentioned unusual behaviour, it could be down to sensory behaviour where your child is experiencing sensory processing differences.
Sensory Inclusive Schools (SIS) is a new training service for schools that delivers high-quality sensory processing training and ongoing support from qualified sensory integration-trained therapists, helping to create environments and curriculums that support all students’ unique sensory profiles.
Find out more about the SIS service here!
Also if your child’s school is affected by long waiting lists for therapy support, do share this resource with them. We’d be happy to chat with them about how this service can potentially help them!
Celebrating Neurodiversity: Resources for Parents and Children
In case you missed this in last month’s issue of Our Sensory Family, do take a look at our ‘Celebrating Neurodiversity’ blog. In the blog, we've pulled together a bunch of materials – including books, guides and free downloads – for both children and parents with the aim of helping to enlighten and support families navigating the intricacies of neurodiversity.
Sensory Snapshot: Dispelling Common Sensory Myths!
In her latest Sensory Snapshot blog, SIE’s Lelanie Brewer looks at myths surrounding Sensory Integration and Sensory Processing and unpicks some of the ones she comes up against most frequently!
For example, a common myth Lelanie often encounters is the one where people who are unfamiliar with sensory processing differences believe that the only difficulties an individual with sensory needs might experience are over-sensitivity to sound or tactile input. In reality, sensory processing differences occur in other senses too such as vestibular, visual, olfactory, gustatory and interoceptive and it is possible to be over-responsive to sensory input from one domain or sense and under-responsive to sensory input from another domain – which can be just as debilitating.
Find out more by reading the full blog here.
Using Sensory Products to Enhance Daily Living in Children with ADHD with Kozie Clothes
Living with ADHD can be challenging, as it affects a person's ability to focus and regulate their emotions and impulsivity, which can also affect their self-esteem. Fortunately, there are various sensory products specially designed to support children with ADHD. These products aim to provide sensory feedback and promote focus, self-regulation and overall well-being.
This guest blog post by Kozie Clothes shares insights into the transformative power of sensory products for children with ADHD as well as the sensory processing differences that are often overlooked in individuals with ADHD.
Also see:
Partnership with Fruit Shoot is supporting autistic people adapt to bottle cap changes
Aberdeen Science Centre promotes inclusivity with new Sensory Space
Autism activities Derbyshire: New festival giving youngsters a space to be themselves
Christine McGuinness offers heartfelt advice to parents waiting for child's autism diagnosis
Autistic-friendly clothing, F&F collection at Tesco
Resources
We've curated articles, guides and blogs focused on this month's theme of understanding neurodiversity including:
- What to Know about Raising Neurodivergent Kids
- Sensory Needs for Autism and ADHD: Managing a Neurodiverse Household
- Three Things I Wish My Parents Had Known, From an Autistic Adult
See our latest resources ideas here.
Books and Product Ideas
Every month we bring you a selection of books and sensory products covering all ages. If there’s a particular book or product you’d like us to feature, let us know! Find out what we have lined up for you this month...
Discounts & Special Offers
We've negotiated these exciting discounts for our Sensory Help Now 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.
Best wishes,
Sensory Help Now
NB: Sensory Help Now is not responsible for the content on external websites. Sharing a resource does not imply endorsement by Sensory Help Now.
