Sensory challenges are very common in the academic environment, as this is a very structured time of a child’s day where he/she is expected to sit still, pay attention, follow directions and learn without standing out in any way from his or her classmates.  The services that are available to children are often limited due to the lack of awareness and understanding by administration and governmental agencies of how sensory integration therapy helps improve underlying processing deficits, which can in turn help a child perform much better in school, in terms of their behavior and learning.

Today I have some tips to help your child be more successful in school, if he or she is struggling now.  The services and level of support recommended and provided in schools can be very different across the country.

First, find a supportive school, with an administrator that shows interest and wants to help.  Talk to administration and give them current information on your older grade school kids, not a history of when your child was at his or her worst in years passed.  See if you can visit the classroom.  Ask for a teacher that compliments your child’s needs, one that is firm with the structure of the classroom and the expectations, and yet very forgiving.

Second, look at the teacher/student ratio, the size of the classroom, the acoustics and the overall setup of the room.  Is the room visually over-stimulating and are there places for less distraction, like a calming station?  Do they offer a quiet corner that any child can go to when needed?

Third- find out if they’re open to a therapist working with them on campus during school hours, being at team meetings, or accepting phone calls or letters with recommendations from therapists to support them.  Also, are they willing to help by making reasonable accommodations recommended from a therapist?

Fourth, do they have a network of resources- such as psychologists, social workers, therapists and/or doctors to refer you to if needed?

You can listen to other episodes for sensory activities that can be incorporated before, after or during school, or you can consult with your current therapist to establish a list of activities or modifications that are most appropriate for your child’s specific needs.

Next week, Marcy Rosenbaum from the Orlando JCC Preschool program will be on our show to talk about ways to support sensory kids in a preschool environment, from a teacher’s perspective as well as a supervisor’s perspective.  Make sure to listen to that episode as she talks about many accommodations they make for these children in the least disruptive ways for the entire classroom.

These are very common concerns amongst most parents, so do your homework, and know that you are not alone!  Thanks for listening!

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