As a pediatric occupational therapist, have you ever sat in a meeting presenting your sensory assessment and felt unassured or insecure? Have you doubted or second-guessed your interventions with children? I have heard so many OTs share that sensory processing is confusing or they do not address these skills in an evaluation or their treatment sessions. You can confidently address sensory integration as a pediatric occupational therapist!
What do I say to that?
1. First and foremost, sensory processing skills are in our scope of practice. We cannot “choose” not to address these skills, especially with children.
Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process—Fourth Edition. Am J Occup Ther August 2020, Vol. 74(Supplement_2), 7412410010p1–7412410010p87. doi: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001
2. Sensory integration is a foundation for physical and social engagement
and participation in daily life activities and routines. (Bundy, et al 2020) In assessing a child’s skills, we cannot ignore or minimize the effect sensory integration has on ALL occupational performance areas.

3. Sensory integration can be confusing. Or is it simply a lack of knowledge and understanding? If we visit or revisit the foundations of our sensory processing system, it will begin to make sense. When we go back to empirical evidence of the science between our sensory and neurological systems within our body, we can see how one system is built upon the other. With science as our foundation, the art of developing interventions produces successful and positive outcomes. The dovetail of the science and art of sensory integration is the development of clinical reasoning.
We all learned about sensory integration at different levels depending on where and when we were trained as occupational therapists. So, where to begin?
1. If possible, obtain formal advanced training in sensory integration. This would conclude with a certificate, credentials, or degree from a crediting agency. Here are the ones that I am aware of currently. I would encourage you to research the courses and find which ones align with your frame of reference and practice. This information is for educational purposes only, not endorsement.
A. Certificate in Ayres Sensory Integration (CASI) https://www.cl-asi.org/casi
Includes certification of the administration of the Evaluation of Ayres SI (EASI)
B. Sensory Processing and Sensory Integration Graduate Certificate (University of Southern California) https://chan.usc.edu/education/sp-si-graduate-certificate
C. ASI wise: https://sensoryproject.org/learning-route/ There is a route that includes the certification of the administration of the Evaluation of Ayres SI (EASI)
D. STAR Certification Courses https://sensoryhealth.org/basic/star-certification-courses
E. Sensory Integration Education ( Sheffield Hallam University in UK) -MSc in Advancing Practice Sensory Integration
2. With little or no knowledge of sensory integration or sensory processing, I would strongly recommend the Simply Sensory Processing Modules. These modules are also an excellent mode of education for teachers, parents, caregivers, paraprofessionals, school administrators, Sunday School staff, and all those who work and live with children with little or no knowledge of sensory integration and sensory processing.
A. AOTA Approved Introductory Course: https://www.kareenrobbinsot.com/aotaapprovedcourses
B. Teacher and Parent Course (for all those who live and work with children who are not seeking AOTA-approved courses. These modules provide a foundation for communication with pediatric or educational teams.) https://www.kareenrobbinsot.com/simplysensoryprocessingmodule
3. For Occupational Therapists who need to build on their current skills to become more confident and assured in their practice with children.
A. AOTA Approved Intermediate Courses:
What’s in your Sensory Processing Assessment Toolbox? & What’s in your Sensory Processing Intervention Toolbox?
4. Focused one-on-one mentoring to individualize your learning and growth as a pediatric OT in sensory processing/integration.
A. Kareen Robbins MS OTR/L https://www.kareenrobbinsot.com/mentoring
There are many mentors available. I encourage you to pay attention to their sensory integration experience and their training aligns with your practice frame of reference and provides individualized components.
Whatever your path to being confident in the area of sensory integration and sensory processing is, just take a step. One step in the appropriate direction to learn, grown and be confident as a pediatric occupational therapy provider!
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