Before we can thrive at school or work, or in friendships and relationships, we all need to have our fundamental needs met. Some of our needs can be entirely unique to us, but if we can’t express or understand those needs it can impact everything else in our life.

Sensory and movement differences can help to explain previously misunderstood needs. This highly interactive workshop is full of real life examples and scenarios, and it will leave you with practical accommodations, strategies and ideas you can apply for yourself, a family member or a person you support.

This workshop covers:

Foundational knowledge in Sensory & Movement differences
The functions and physiology of the senses
Sensory Integration Dysfunction, and related disorders
Common difficulties/observations for people with hypo/hyper arousal of each sense.
Practical sensory experiences; understanding own preferences.
Sensory relations to anxiety/behaviour & management ideas
Practical applications, tools, and examples.

The topic will be relevant for many people, including people with a diagnosis of Autism and other neurological difference.

Places are strictly limited.

"Joyce-Lyn is deeply passionate and committed to improving quality of life for people with disability. She has a rare insight into the sensory and movement differences that we experience." Rodney Mills - Professional Consultant, trainer and presenter with lived experience of Autism

Download a printable and accessible flyer here (word doc)

About the Presenter:

Joyce-Lyn Smith has 25 years of professional experience supporting people with complex support needs in a variety of environments and settings. Living in Townsville, she is the Clinical Director at PoDDSS (Professional Disability Development Supports & Services) and has previously worked in the Intensive Behaviour Support Team with the Queensland government.

Following completion of the mentoring program with Professor Anne M. Donnellan, University of San Diego and Martha R. Leary (SLP), Nova Scotia in 2009, Joyce-Lyn collaborated with Learning Disability & Mental Health Nurse Karl Jacks to develop this workshop

Who Should Attend?

This event is for people with disability, their families and supporters. It will be of interest to supporters of people who experience sensory difference or movement difference, and is particularly beneficial if attended as a team.

* This event is partly subsidised by the Commonwealth Department of Social Services through an Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) grant.
If cost is a barrier to attending, please contact CRU to discuss.

Using Your NDIS Funding at CRU

For self-managing and plan-managed NDIS participants, see the Learning Objectives below. You can decide if this is a reasonable and necessary support to help you (or your family member) achieve their goals.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be provided with information which will enable an increased understanding of:

Sensory awareness
Sensory integration
Anxiety and behaviour
Introduction to movement differences

About CRU:

For over 30 years, Community Resource Unit has been working across Queensland to help people with disability take control of their lives and take their place in their community.