Understanding Sensory Sensitivities
of students with autism cover their ears in the classroom
The Truth About Sensory Sensitivities
You’ve probably seen the headlines: “Student with autism locked in a bathroom,” “Student with special needs dragged down a hallway by his arm,” “Child with disability arrested at school.”
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It’s clear that many school districts are missing the mark when it comes to preventing and managing sensory overload. This section includes new research to expose the truth behind sensory sensitivities and change students’ educational experience with disabilities.
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Help Us Gather, the nonprofit that inspired We Include, learned firsthand from men and women with sensory sensitivities what the student experience was like for them, and the root cause. Through dozens of firsthand accounts, along with a supporting interview from Dr. Temple Grandin, the truth behind sensory meltdowns became clear.
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Adults who experienced sensory overload in the classroom as a child agree that they could not express what was happening to them in their younger years. As adults, they were able to reflect and describe what provoked their response. The answer was the same in every interview: pain.
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Sadly, mainstream thinking teaches that sensory overload is a behavioral issue and students can be taught not to display certain behaviors. That’s just simply not true.
Watch this video to experience what it is like to live with sensory sensitivities in the classroom.
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Warning: This video contains audio that may be uncomfortable. Start watching with low volume.
Children exhibit signs of a sensory processing disorder
How to Handle Meltdowns at School
One of the issues educators face is understanding what contributes to meltdowns in students with special needs and how to effectively handle them.
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When students are in emotional or physical pain, it can trigger a “fight-or-flight” reaction that is often misdiagnosed as a behavioral issue. Click below to learn more about what leads to meltdowns and how to prevent them in the classroom and at schools.
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Gym Teachers: This is For You
Gym teachers often struggle to balance physical education and sensory issues in some students. Noises, lights, and crowds can cause physical and mental pain for students with sensory processing disorders (SPD) and other disabilities. So what is the solution?
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We give you Mark Fleming. He’s the nation’s leading expert in inclusive exercise. He gained international fame as the first trainer with autism in the U.S. to own and operate his own fitness studio for clients with special needs. His trailblazing techniques have been featured on major outlets like CNN, NowThis, and Yahoo!.
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