Building Bridges Through Sensory Integration : Therapy for Children With Autism and Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Winner of the Summer 2015 Academics' Choice Smart Book Award!

Written by three experienced occupational therapists, this book offers a combination of theory and strategies. It is a perfect tool for those working with young children, but also broad enough to be adapted for older children and adults. Building Bridges provides creative techniques and useful tips while offering innovative strategies and practical advice for dealing with everyday challenges, including managing behaviors, improving muscle tone, developing social skills, selecting diets, and more. Part one explains the role of the occupational therapists in treatment and examines sensory integration theories. Part two offers methods of identifying sensory problems in children along with numerous strategies and activities.

Helpful topics include:

What is Occupational Therapy?

What is Sensory Integration?

What are the Sensory Systems?

Identifying Problems with Sensory Integration Strategies for Challenging Behaviors

Ideas for Self Care Skills

Adapting Home, School, and Child Care Settings

Paula Aquilla loves the practice of Occupational Therapy and Osteopathy! She is a graduate of the University of Toronto and has practiced in a variety of clinical, home and community settings since 1986. Paula is also an osteopathic manual practitioner and specializes in paediatrics. She is the director of Aquilla Occupational Therapy; a family oriented practice that is full of fun and learning! Paula was the founder and was the director of Yes I Can! Nursery School, Yes I Can! Summer camps and the I Love My Baby programs in Toronto from 1990-1996. She was the founding director of Giant Steps, Toronto. Paula currently consults to the Muki Baum Treatment Centres in Toronto and she consults to many school in Toronto. She teaches throughout Canada, the United States, Australia, the UK, and India. Her practice encompasses all types of children and young adults and her specialty is sensory integration therapy. Paula has been a guest lecturer for the University of Toronto, McMaster University and Humber College. She is published in the field: she is a co-author of Building Bridges through Sensory Integration: Occupational Therapy for Children with Autism and other Developmental Disorders (1998) and is a contributor to Children, Youth and Adults with Asperger’s Syndrome. Paula has contributed to other magazines and special interest newsletters in Canada, the US and the UK. She is the technical editor for the SI Focus Magazine. Paula brings warmth and enthusiasm in her work with children and their families. Aquilla Occupational Therapy Services was established in 1990.

Ellen Yack M.Ed., B.Sc.OT, OT Reg.(Ont.) is an occupational therapist who possesses a unique combination of expertise in the areas of clinical work, consultation, education and public speaking. Ellen has practiced as an occupational therapist since 1979 and has a Masters Degree in Education. She is internationally recognized for her expertise in sensory processing and autism spectrum disorders. Ellen's other areas of expertise include developmental coordination disorder, global developmental delay, attention deficit disorders and learning disabilities. She is one of the co-authors of Building Bridges Through Sensory Integration: Occupational Therapy for Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders which won a Teachers Choice Award for Best Special Education Classroom Resource. Ellen is also a contributor to the book Children, Youth and Adults with Asperger Syndrome.

Shirley Sutton (BSc, OT Reg(Ont)) is a private occupational therapist helping children and youth with long and short term developmental disabilities, and adults with developmental disabilities. She also offers in-services and workshops on a variety of topics related to play, behavior, gross and fine motor development, and sensory integration. Registered with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, and is a member of the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists, The American Association of Occupational Therapists, and Autism Ontario.

As a music, movement and drama teacher for 25 years (1976-2001), Carol observed many out-of-sync preschoolers. To help them become more competent in their work and play, she began to study sensory processing and sensory integration (“SI”) theory. She learned to help identify her young students’ needs and to steer them into early intervention. In writings and workshops, she explains to parents, educators, and other early childhood professionals how sensory issues play out – and provides fun and functional techniques for addressing them at home and school. She is best-known for her book, The Out-of-Sync Child, which has sold more than 600,000 copies (September 2013).Over 400 sponsors have brought Carol to their communities for presentations, both in the United States and abroad ― including Australia, Canada, England, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, and Singapore. (Click http://out-of-sync.child.com/about-carol/sponsors-of-carols-presentations/if you are curious.)To help families, teachers, and professionals understand SPD in children, she has authored several books, manuals and other publications.