Creating a sensory space in your home to help your autistic child and not break the bank
Also, check out OAR’s free “Navigating the Special Education System” guide
April 16, 2024
Hi, there!
Your autistic child with ADHD may have one or more sensory issues, and that is very characteristic of those who are on the spectrum. Yet, you can help your child better manage these sensitivities by providing a sensory space in your home (and that can include your backyard too).
In this week’s blog post on Autism & ADHD Connection, find out how to create a sensory space for your child with autism and ADHD.
The post discusses what are sensory issues, how to make sure you’ve identified all the sensory challenges your child faces, and how you can create a sensory area in your home to help with sensory overstimulation or under stimulation of your child.
When our son J was young, he had sensitivity with his vestibular system. I didn’t intentionally create our backyard into a sensory area for him, but it worked out that way. We had a trampoline, swing set, water table and sandbox for him and his brother. Those really helped him better manage his sensory issues.
If you look online, you can find some outrageous prices on sensory rooms. However, you don’t have to break the bank to create a sensory area in your home. In fact, you can repurpose things you may already have around the home and don’t have to spend any money on new items. For example, if playing in water stimulates your child, look in your kitchen for cups, bowls or other items you can collect into a plastic bin you already have and place them in the bathroom where your child can use them in the sink or tub there. You can also selectively choose a few items to purchase that you think would best help your child. A sensory area can be created using any budget you have!
Inspirational Quote
“The concept of neurodiversity provides a paradigm shift in how we think about mental functioning. Instead of regarding large portions of the American public as suffering from deficit, disease, or dysfunction in their mental processing, neurodiversity suggests that we instead speak about differences in cognitive functioning.”
- Dr. Thomas Armstrong, author of Neurodiversity: Discovering the Extraordinary Gifts of Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Brain Differences
Resources Available
Are you new to or have challenges working with your autistic child’s school to ensure your child is getting the education they need? The Organization for Autism Research has a free guide available called “Navigating the Special Education System.” It teaches parents about the special education system along with theirs and their child’s education rights.
If you ever need to contact me, send me an email at info@autismadhdconnection.com. I’d love to hear from you.
Take care and best wishes for the coming week!
Tamara McGuire Hull
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So helpful and in plain language! I will be sharing with my patients’ families