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Rachel Johnson, Lead Consultant Occupational Therapist, and Lucy Basing, Occupational Therapist, are challenging terminology used within Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy (ASI Therapy).
“At Seashell Trust we carry out ASI assessments and therapy with both children and adults and aspire to achieve outcomes with everyone. However, there is little to no research on the benefits of ASI Therapy for adults with complex intellectual disabilities and many of the terminology is not ‘age-appropriate’ as it uses words such as ‘the child’ or ‘play’.
We have seen great success with this type of therapy with our young adults, but many publications and guidelines excludes adults, by specifically stating they are for children and youths. This can cause complications when applying for funding for equipment and assessments. “
Rachel is a Consultant Occupational Therapist working with children and young adults with complex learning disabilities, sensory impairments, and behaviours of concern. Her caseload cannot typically participate in standardised assessments and clinical observations. She is passionate about making Ayres sensory integration therapy accessible to this population.
Lucy worked as a support worker and OT assistant in community neuro rehabilitation for over a decade, then studied Occupational Therapy at the University of Salford, qualifying in 2021. She now works at Seashell Trust, a specialist college for individuals with additional needs including hearing impairments, sensory processing disorders and profound and multiple learning difficulties. In 2022 she began training in Sensory Integration and continues to use her learning to inform her practice working in the college with an adult cohort.
Rachel and Lucy will be virtually presenting their findings and requesting a change in terminology at the International Sensory Integration Conference at Sydney, Australia, on the 28th – 30th October, 2024.
To view their academic poster and suggested change to publications, click here.
