This paper presents the findings of a survey conducted in the Winter of 1986 by the Sensory Integration: Toronto Study Group designed to investigate the use of sensory integration in clinical settings. The survey was distributed to occupational therapists in Southern Ontario who offer services to children with sensory integrative dysfunction. The results are discussed in relation to occupational therapy practice, literature and research. The findings suggest that sensory integration therapy is one of manytheoretical frameworks incorporated into occupational therapy programs for this population. In view of this information, the paper discourages the use of the term “sensoryintegration therapist” as it does not adequately represent the varied approach utilized by the respondents in this study or the extent of knowledge and skills they appear to possess. The paper proposes that the holistic nature of occupational therapy intervention needs to be considered in research designs to ensure valid and clinically relevant evaluation of sensory integration procedures.
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