Abstract
This session details parents’ experiences of implementing Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) at home using the ASI Parent Education Modules under the guidance of their OTs.
Primary Author and Speaker: Emily Elizabeth Lowry
Additional Authors and Speakers: Roseann C. Schaaf
Contributing Authors: Susan Toth-Cohen
Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) intervention is a manualized intervention utilized by occupational therapists to provide individualized sensorimotor activities, contextualized in play, using the just right challenge to promote neuroplasticity and to foster adaptive behaviors to promote participation in valued occupations (Ayres, 1979; Schaaf & Mailloux, 2015). As part of the manualized process, ASI requires clinicians to educate and collaborate with parents to increase their knowledge of their child’s underlying sensorimotor factors and implement activities at home to promote participation in activities and tasks. Thus, Schaaf & Mailloux (2015) created Parent Education Modules for use with ASI and these were later modified by others (Roan, et al, 2021). However, there is a need to research parent education materials for parents of children with sensory processing and sensory integration challenges, specifically regarding the content needed, facilitators and barriers to implementation, and the long-term impact of parent training (Miller-Kuhaneck & Watling, 2018). This presentation will review the qualitative methods used to examine parents’ perceptions of the facilitators and barriers impacting their understanding and carryover of ASI parent education modules for autistic children experiencing sensory integration challenges. We will discuss the use of Braun and Clarke’s (2022) reflexive thematic analysis (TA) to better understand parents’ experiences and perceptions of the information provided in the modules. Three themes were developed from the data: Challenges of Raising an Autistic Child as a Neurotypical Parent, Making the Connection, and Testing Limits and Pushing Boundaries. Our findings elucidate recommendations for clinicians and for adaptations to the current ASI Parent Educational Modules to support parent learning of ASI and carryover.
Ayres, A.J. (1979). Sensory integration and the child. Western Psychological Services.
Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2022). Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide. Sage Publications.
Lane, S.J., Mailloux, Z., Schoen, S., Bundy, A., May-Benson, T.A., Parham, L.D., Smith Roley, S., & Schaaf, R.C. (2019). Perspectives – Neural Foundations of Ayres Sensory Integration®. Brain Sciences, 9(153). https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci9070153
Miller-Kuhaneck, H. & Watling, R. (2018). Parental or teacher education and coaching to support function and participation of children and youth with sensory processing and sensory integration challenges: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(1). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2018.029017