Sensory Processing – Intervention Approaches

This 60-minute course provides an applied overview on sensory processing and intervention approaches. Effective sensory intervention requires more than a collection of techniques. It demands clear clinical reasoning, an understanding of participation, and careful alignment between intervention approach, context, and goals. This course builds on the theoretical and assessment principles covered in Parts 1 and 2 and focuses on sensory intervention approaches used in paediatric occupational therapy practice. Participants will explore both top-down and bottom-up intervention approaches, with particular attention to Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) and commonly used sensory-based approaches. Top-down approaches are examined in relation to participation-focused intervention, including routines-based intervention, environmental modification, and context-embedded strategies across home, school, and community settings. Bottom-up approaches, including ASI, are explored in terms of their theoretical foundations and core principles. The emphasis throughout is on understanding when, why, and how different intervention approaches are used, rather than on prescriptive protocols, supporting clinicians to make informed, defensible, and child-centred intervention decisions. Ideal for: Clinicians with foundational knowledge of sensory processing and assessment who want to strengthen intervention reasoning and clarify distinctions between sensory intervention approaches.