After gaining funding from County Durham Community Foundation, Sensory Processing Disorder Parent Support Group North East England put together a free training morning for some of their parents which was held at Woodham Village Community Centre on 14th August 2017. The group enlisted the help of Dawn Dunn, Sensory Integration trained Occupational Therapist from Tree Tops Children’s Occupational Therapy in Newton Aycliffe to provide vital training to help the parents gain more understanding of their children’s difficulties.
Dawn put together a practical and theory training programme which saw the parents/carers undertaking a ‘sensory routine’, enabling them to understand what it felt like for their children with sensory issues and how to help them. When children have difficulties with their sensory system they cannot tolerate clothing, dislike noise, smell and daily tasks such as shopping or attending school which leads to meltdowns at home. One parent said, “It was brilliant! I came home with so many new ideas, wanting to rush to the shops. I found it fascinating listening to all the other parent/carers whose children have the same condition but how different everyone’s child is.
It was so nice to hear everyone’s situations and feel like I’m not alone. I cannot wait to try all the suggestions.” The group have just been told the news they have been chosen along with two other projects for the September to October vote for the Tesco Bags of Help Grant Scheme. They are hoping to repeat this type of training enabling more of their members to gain valuable training to help the children. Dawn O’Hanlon, Admin SPD Parent Support Group
