Archive for February, 2011

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) makes it difficult for a person to understand information they receive from their senses. If you take a minute to think about it, everything you know about the world comes through your senses. SPD causes a person’s body to misinterpret this sensory information causing them to respond inappropriately to ordinary sensory experiences.

When our senses are integrated properly they protect us and allow us to enjoy our surroundings.  Who doesn’t enjoy smelling fresh baked cookies or leave a building when they smell smoke?   The five senses most of us are familiar with are:

• Vision -visual perception
• Hearing – auditory perception
• Touch – tactile perception
• Smell – olfactory perception
• Taste – oral perception

Two senses we may not be familiar with are:

• Vestibular – our sense of balance
• Proprioceptive – our muscles movement

When coordinated properly our senses work together to help us understand and maneuver within our environment. For example to open a door:

• We look at it- visual perception.
• We place our hand on the doorknob- visual and tactile, and proprioceptive perception.
• We squeeze the doorknob (not to hard or to soft) and turn it- tactile, proprioceptive perception.
• We pull open the door (not to hard or to soft) – vestibular, proprioceptive, visual, and tactile perception. (If the door has a squeaky hinge we hear that as we are opening it – auditory perception.)
• We walk through the doorway, stepping over the door jam- visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive perception.

A person with SPD may:

• Bump into the door.
• Slam the door.
• Hit their self with the door.
• Trip or bang into the doorway as they walk through.
• Be unable to open the door.

If you believe your child may have SPD have them evaluated by an Occupational Therapist trained in Sensory Processing Disorder.

With summer coming around the corner we thought you might be interested in a new company:

Bridges to Adventure

Having a child with Autism presents many challenges, including planning and managing appropriate vacations for the WHOLE family. A new company, Bridges to Adventure is going to try to make this easier.  Their mission is to provide families that have a child with Autism necessary preparation, tools and support to have an enjoyable and memorable vacation for each and every family member.  Beginning in the summer of 2011, they will host trips to Alaska and Costa Rica.  Trips will include lodging, meals and therapeutic opportunities. 

Director and founder, Melissa Bridges (BA-Therapeutic Recreation, MaEd-Special Education) and her support staff of teachers, occupational therapists and speech/language pathologists have spent decades specializing in the care and treatment of children with Autism. A passion for teaching children with Autism and love of the great outdoors, have finally come together to create one of the most unique travel companies available to families that have children with autism. Her focus is on the WHOLE family; making sure each member has an incredible vacation they will never forget!