"If the child's relationship to the earth is not secure, then all other relationships fail to develop optimally."

Jean Ayres was an Occupational Therapist and Educational Psychologist. She is the founder of sensory integration theory and therapy.  This is often referred to as SI (Sensory integration) or ASI (Ayres Sensory Integration).

Sensory Integration refers to the way in which our brains processes, integrates and organises the sensory information that we receive.  We receive the sensory information from the environment but also through our bosies.  

Once we have received the sensory information , we then need to translate and respond to it. This needs to be interpreted and an integrated in an appropriate manner.

SI Therapy can used to support with:

• Improvements with emotional regulation and self-regulation
• Increasing self-esteem
• Increased motivation to engage and explore the environment
• Improvements with efficient organisation of sensory information
• Improving engagement and independence in everyday activities such as self-care tasks (washing, dressing, using cutlery)
• Improved engagement and function within school and at home 
• Improvements with the integration of sensory systems
• Improvement with motor planning ability
• Improvement with fine and gross motor skills

To be able to assess and provide therapy  for sensory integration challenges, the therapist must have a degree in Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy or Speech and Language Therapy. The therapist must the complete post-graduate training to obtain a post-graduate certificate in Ayres Sensory Integration. More information can be found on the Sensory Integration Education website.