Have you heard terms like "sensory differences," or "sensory processing disorder," or "sensory issues," or "highly sensitive persons," and would like to know more about what those terms mean, why some adults make a big deal about them, or why YOU might care? You're in luck! We're going to talk about exactly that. 

We're going to briefly explore:
-That some people experience the same thing (a touch, smell, sound, etc.) more intensely, and some people less intensely, and that's okay. That is a natural range of human experience.
-What different people mean when they use terms like "sensory differences," including a little context so that you can choose what you want to call it.
-Easy ways to explain sensory differences to teachers, friends, family, and others.
-How many senses you really have (hint, there are more than five).
-In fact, there's a whole world of wonderful sensory experiences open to you when you start exploring this fascinating topic.

This class is open to everyone who is interested in understanding our human senses better, and it might be of particular interest to those who already know they have sensory processing differences, who identify as highly sensitive persons, who are on the autism spectrum, or who have siblings or friends with sensory differences. All are welcome.


—•—•—•— Why I made this class —•—•—•—

I grew up knowing that I was sensitive to lights and loud noises and tags in my clothes and a few other things, but did not realize the extent that my sensory differences were impacting my life until I spent some time really delving deeply into how I experience day-to-day touch and smells and colors and all the other senses that make up our experience of the world.

It surprised me how much it affected my life. So I got curious, learning everything I could about human senses and the nervous system. Now I've spent years helping others learn about their own unique sensory profiles. 


—•—•—•— What to expect in this class —•—•—•—


In this class, you'll get the opportunity to explore the range of human sensory experiences with others who are also curious. This is a topic that affects everyone who is alive, but that is seldom discussed openly, so you may find that there are a number of experiences we talk about that you haven't been able to put into words, but may feel very familiar. You may have thought you were the only one, but you're not!

This class is a welcoming place for diverse learning and communication styles. Students are welcome to participate with camera on or off, to communicate via chat or voice or listen quietly, to move around or doodle or stimm, and to request accommodations as needed.


—•—•—•— A few other notes —•—•—•—

This group is a welcoming place for LGBTQIA+ teens (cis, trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive teens welcome), for teens on and around the autism spectrum (no diagnosis needed), and teens with sensory processing differences, highly sensitive persons, and anyone else wishing to understand their senses better.

Content for this class is heavily informed by several excellent leaders in the field of sensory differences, including Shannon Heller, PhD, Rachael Schneider, MA, MHC, Elaine Aron, PhD, and Kelly Mahler, MS, OTR/L, and with the guidance of occupational therapists trained in sensory integration, as well as my own personal and professional experience. No matter how much I learn, however, I remain curious and open to how day-to-day interactions with the world affect me and others, and how our experiences are each unique. I am constantly learning.