Hello My name is James I am 11 years old and I am in Year 6. I have sensory integration difficulties. When I was little I lived with my first family. Things there were very very tricky and I used to get hurt sometimes, and sometimes they forgot to feed me or play with me. It changed how my brain wired, so it wired a bit differently. Sometimes my senses and my brain misunderstand stuff going around me. Sometimes my brain tells my body to do crazy stuff. I think it overworks sometimes. When this happens then I m an autopilot crazy cat. Sometimes getting somethings done takes me longer and can be a little harder. Like typing shoes laces, and eating my lunch. But I am really really smart. I am also really good avoiding the things that are really tricky. Sometimes this means that when I say no, I won t move or budge, not even a tiny bit. I can get really really mad and throw stuff. Sometimes it gets so tricky I just curl up in a ball and stop.
The things I find hard to do that get me a little stuck in life are: Handwriting Dressing at home and school especially after PE and swimming Playing with my friends on the playground. Being rushed and overloaded with too much talking, loud sounds or touch. I like talking more than writing Tidying up my stuff is tricky Listening when other stuff is going on Remembering to do things I am asked The door being open Windows being open and too much noise People touching me People being too close to me People using my things Things that are odd or out of place Talking about things when I make mistakes Sitting still Cutting my nails
I use a Sensory Ladder to help me be in a just right space to get things done. When I am not at the right level green for school and thinking activities, then I use the ladder to help me get into the right space. My Sensory Ladder 0-1 Snoozy Sleepy Cat - Asleep/Sleepy Sleep is tricky for me, I often only crash when I m really tired 2-3 Blobby Cat - Under alert Sleepy, slow and low, I miss things happening round me 4-6 Calm, Purring Watching Cat - Calm and Alert I can think, learn and remember I listen well and talk about what bothers me I get stuff done, at home and school 7 Tetchy, Scratchy Teasy Cat over alert/vigilant - flight Teasy - I just want to be alone Irritated and sometimes tearful, I can t sit still I am a bit worried, words are getting trickier I might tell you to go away. I need space 8 Snarly Hissy Spitting Cat over alert - fight Uptight swearing, stroppy, shouting Fighting and Mad throwing stuff and hitting, I might even bite and kick. I am not thinking clearly, sometimes I won t remember 9-10+ Petrified Cat shutdown dissociated - freeze Over whelmed, Frozen no words, lying down curled up Like a stone statue
Things that help me be calm and organized are: At home Using a calendar Notice boards with lists and Post It notes The big exercise ball and ball exercises My Trampette My Safe Space Den My Sensory Box Being left to get on with things at my own pace in my own way Doing things for my self people not doing it fore me because I am doing it slowly Closing doors and windows Using my heavy blanket, wrapping it tightly round me Having space to get dressed and get my shoes on, not in the hall Having my own chair in the lounge so I don t have to sit next to anyone else Having a bath with the funny candles on and the LED light and Spotify Songs to listen to Lush bath stuff smells Hammock Swing Pokemon Stomp outs with heavy boots
At school Sensory Breaks in the gym Virco Zuma Chair Theraband activities with Mr J., my TA Teachers explaining things Teachers knowing why I do things so I don t have to explain to people all the time Given extra time to do my work Working with people who understand me Having my own safe space and sensory box at school Being able to have short movement breaks to wake me up and refresh my brain Breaking big things in to smaller steps so they don t seem as big Highlighter pens Having someone to talk to at school when things aren t ok and I need a break Using my Sensory Ladder when I have no words Wall pushups
Out and about Sensory Travel Kit Pokemon Emergency Stomp Wall push ups Having instructions in smaller steps Being given space away from busy areas Everywhere Having ways to know if I am doing ok, other people using my ladder This document has been made as part of my therapy with my OT OT s Name. For more information on supporting me please call her mobile number, or email her email address or via her website: www.website.org For more information about sensory integration and sensory processing difficulties please visit ASI WISE and The Sensory Project www.asi-wise.org. There are also FB pages including one for The Sensory Ladder.
Petrified Cat Stuck/frozen, words won t come out Really really scared Snarly Hissy Spitting Cat Fight: stroppy/ /grumpy/ Angry/growling, teeth, snappy, throwing stuff and hitting Tetchy, Scratchy Teasy Cat Flight: Teasy/want to be alone/irritated/tearful Escape mode Calm, Purring Watching Cat This is where I think learn and remember best. Blobby Cat misses the mouse Awake but brain not fired up yet. Looked like I m bored or very very relaxed. Miss things others say. Snoozy Sleeping Cat From sleepy to asleep and deep sleep sleeping is hard for me.