‘Inclusive Adaptation Approach’ for Children with Sensory Modulation Disorder (SPD) in Public Spaces, Educational and Home Settings

Orly Yazdi-Ugav

Special Education and Sport Therapy, The Academic College at Wingate, Netanya, Israel
The Psychomotor Academy, Training Professionals in Diagnosis and Treatment, Hadera, Israel

‘Sensory modulation’ refers to a complex process of perceiving sensory information and producing responses that are appropriately graded to, or congruent with, the circumstances. It defines the ability to regulate and organize adaptable reactions to sensory input, filtering out needless stimuli, and attending to relevant stimuli while upholding an optimal level of arousal. This capacity is a critical component of human function that affects the competence of one’s interactions with the physical and human environment, ability to succeed in every daily life tasks and the quality of life.

Sensory Modulation Disorder (SPD) refers to an inability to “regulate and organize the degree, intensity, and nature of response to sensory input in a graded and adaptive manner” (Lane et al., 2000). Children with SPD struggle with overload in the process of information processing and/or insufficient sensory signals that are not perceived. Hence, they have difficulties in organizing the sensory input in a way that can be arranged into suitable responses. The negative consequences of SPD can be noticed in the way children behave, perform motor skills, learn at school and socially interact with others. Excessive emotional states such as anxiety, depression, anger and hostility usually accompany SPD. Providing support to children with SPD is significantly important at any time, and especially in the present challenging period of the Corona epidemic.

The lecture is aimed to:

a) Facilitate a better understanding regarding the consequences of SPD, the prevalence of which has been estimated at 5% of the pediatric population.

b) Describe the characteristics of the main three subtypes of SPD.

c) Suggest a unique `Inclusive Adaptation Approach` for empowering children with SPD. Such an approach is significantly important for public decision makers, professionals and teachers in educational settings, in the clinical field and for parents.

The lecture`s aims will be achieved by presenting current research findings, a short movie and examples of adaptations.

Orly Yazdi-Ugav

the Academic College at Wingate, Netanya, Israel; The psychomotor Academy, Israel

Dr. Orly Yazdy-Ugav is a a Senior Lecturer in the Motor Behavior Department and the Coordinator of the Special Education and Sport Therapy Qualification Program at the Academic College at Wingate Institute for 36 years. Also, she Conducts courses in the Psychomotor Academy ( https://www.facebook.com/orlycourse/) for the training of diagnoses and therapists in sensory modulation and psychomotor problems. In May 1996 she received a Prize for Academic Excellence and Special Contribution to Israeli Society from the ISEF International Education Fund, presented by the President of the State of Israel. In February 2003, she received a Certificate of Excellence from the Hadera Municipality for professional achievements. In April, 2010, she received a Certificate of Honorary Award from the Israeli Organization of Adapted Physical Activity. Dr. Yazdy has written extensively regarding psychomotor characteristics of children with learning disabilities and with developmental coordination disorder. She has also published several books, among them: ‘Normal vs. faulty learning and motor development: Theoretical and practical aspects’, ‘I’m not a klutz! – I have developmental coordination disorder (DCD)’, and ‘Success with touch – in gross and fine motor skills’.