Occupational Therapy Using Ayres Sensory Integration® in School-Based Practice: A Call to Action

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Pediatric sensory processing
• Educational psychology

Background:

• Sensory integration challenges impact children's school engagement and educational participation.
• Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) is an evidence-based intervention for autistic children with emerging evidence for sensory integration differences.
• ASI application in school settings has been historically limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for increased use of ASI principles in schools.
• To determine the necessity and appropriateness of ASI in educational settings.
• To assess ASI alignment with education laws and mandates.

Main Methods:

• Review of evidence supporting ASI in school settings.
• Analysis of alignment between ASI and educational laws.
• Development of strategies for implementing ASI across multitiered systems of support.

Main Results:

• Interventions for sensory integration and processing fall within school-based occupational therapy.
• ASI principles can be applied across all tiers of support systems.
• Evidence supports the feasibility and benefits of ASI in academic settings.

Conclusions:

• Occupational therapists should advocate for ASI in schools.
• Implementing ASI principles enhances support for students with sensory needs.
• ASI is appropriate and necessary for addressing sensory processing challenges in education.