Where does the time go? We are all busy this time of year, but it is a good busy and a happy busy - it is that time of year, is it not?
We have been reliving our first SPD Canada workshop, and continue to celebrate its success. We were more than thrilled to have it sell out, and to see such a high percentage of professionals attending. Over 80% of our audience were Occupational Therapists, and for us, this is a wonderful sign that more are hearing about SPD, more want research-based information, and more are looking for suggestions of where to go for information and for appropriate assessment tools.
We were also thrilled as board members, as we, too, habitually say “the more we know, the more we realize how much more we need to know” and that was confirmed after hearing Kathy Mulka O.T. (Unlimited Potentials) and Meryle Lehn O.T. (www.stickids.com) speak about the research on Sensory Processing Disorder and the progress being made toward getting it into the DSM. For those of you wanting more information about where SPD has come from and where it stand in being recognized, you might want to check out http://occupational-therapy.advanceweb.com/Article/Almost-There.aspx - an excellent article that recently arrived in my ‘inbox’.
I found it interesting to know that 90% of all children with autism, and 60% of all children with ADHD, have SPD as well. (www.spdfoundation.net ). It was interesting to hear that 5-10% of the population has SPD and 40-85% of those with disabilities have SPD. I learn so much listening to the experts on this disorder!
As professionals, advocates and parents, we need to help those who use the saying “autistic like”. We need to help redirect and properly identify what we see. When you look up “autistic like tendencies” you will see 80% of those tendencies are, in fact, sensory tendencies. Because SPD is not yet recognized, and because approximately 90% of ASD children have SPD, we all tend use that general statement. It is understandable - but that does not mean it is right. When we see sensory tendencies, let’s call it as we see it.
We know that the month ahead brings big changes and big reactions for our children with SPD, as they face changes to their schedules, diets, and bedtimes. In children without SPD, these factors impact their behaviour; what we need to understand is that our children feel it more and feel it for longer. While it may take a typical child a day to recover from being up too late, being around too many relatives, and eating too much food coloring, it takes our children weeks. This is the reality of SPD. Remember, the difference between being overly sensitive and having Sensory Processing Disorder, is when it inhibits a child’s, teenager’s, or adult’s development or ability to function.
Go slow, go simple, and take many breaks. The less stressed we are at this very frantic time, the calmer our children will be.
We at SPD Canada look back at this year in awe of all that has been accomplished. Our site is getting so much attention. We are ready to send in our application for charitable number status, and look forward to approval. This will allow us to increase our funding, and our ability to accomplish more of our dreams for all of you and all the children. SPD is becoming a household name - thanks to all of you who are doing so much to get this disorder recognized.
There are a few people I would like to thank on behalf of SPD Canada who have made a difference in our lives this year:
On behalf of the board of SPD Canada, we wish you a peaceful Christmas season and continued awareness and education regarding Sensory Processing Disorder in the New Year.
Cheers,
Lori Fankhanel