Sensory Access Michigan

Sensory Library

Short, plain-language answers to specific questions about sensory processing. Each one is a starting point, not a substitute for a professional who knows the person involved.

RoutinesWhat is a sensory diet?A plain-language explanation of the term, where it comes from, and why it has nothing to do with food.
Movement needsWhat is proprioception, and why do kids crave "heavy work"?The sense of body position and force, and why pushing, pulling, and carrying often has a calming effect.
Movement needsHeavy work activities to try at homePractical, no-equipment ways to build proprioceptive input into an ordinary day.
Movement needsWhat is vestibular processing?How the inner ear’s balance system affects movement, posture, and alertness - not just dizziness.
Touch and textureWhy does my child refuse certain clothing textures?Why a tag or a seam can trigger real distress, and practical adjustments that usually help more than persuasion.
Touch and textureWhat is tactile defensiveness?A strong reaction to ordinary touch, and when it is - and is not - worth raising with a professional.
SoundWhy are loud or unexpected noises so distressing?Auditory sensitivity explained, and why the same person can also seek sound out in other moments.
OverwhelmWhat is interoception?The internal body sense behind hunger, thirst, and noticing an emotion before it peaks.
SoundWhat kinds of tools actually help with sound sensitivity?The categories of noise-reducing and sound-softening tools people use, without recommending specific brands.
School supportHow can a classroom be made more sound-friendly?Practical adjustments that reduce noise stress for sensitive students without disrupting the rest of the room.
OverwhelmWhy do fluorescent lights or busy visual environments feel overwhelming?Flicker, hum, and visual clutter explained, and what tends to make a space easier to be in.
FocusWhat is a low-stimulation space, and how do you set one up?A practical guide to building a calmer corner at home or school, and how it is meant to be used.
Touch and textureWhat is oral sensory seeking, and why does my child chew on everything?Why chewing on objects is often about sensory input, not habit, and how it connects to proprioception.
Touch and textureWhat are safe chewable sensory tools, and when should you use them?What to look for in a chewable tool, and why one might be offered instead of everyday objects.
Touch and textureHow can I help a picky eater who avoids certain food textures?Why texture, not taste, is often the real barrier, and practical ways to expand what is tolerated.
Movement needsWhy does my child spin, rock, or seek constant movement?Vestibular seeking explained, and why it works better to plan for it than to try to stop it.
Movement needsWhat are safe ways to give a sensory-seeking child more movement?Practical, low-cost ways to build planned movement into a day, at home and at school.
Movement needsWhy does pushing, carrying, or squeezing something feel calming?The organizing effect of firm pressure and effortful movement on the nervous system, explained.
RoutinesWhy does my child struggle to notice hunger, thirst, or the bathroom?How interoception affects noticing internal signals, and practical ways to build in reminders.
OverwhelmHow can adults build better body-awareness and self-regulation skills?Practical starting points for strengthening interoceptive awareness later in life.
School supportHow does school-based occupational therapy work?IEPs, 504 Plans, and informal accommodations explained, and how a student gets evaluated.
School supportWhat sensory accommodations are common in classrooms?A practical survey of seating, sound, light, and calm-down adjustments schools actually use.
School supportHow to talk to a teacher about your child's sensory needsHow to prepare for the conversation, what to say, and why a short follow-up email matters.
RoutinesWhat to ask about cost, insurance, and scheduling before your first appointmentPractical questions worth getting answered before you commit to a provider, not during the first visit.
RoutinesWhat to ask about a therapist's approach and experienceQuestions about specialty, session style, and progress tracking to gauge fit before committing.
OverwhelmWhat sensory accommodations are available in the workplace?Practical adjustments to ask about, and the difference between informal requests and a formal ADA process.
OverwhelmGetting a sensory assessment as an adult: what to expectWhere to start, what an assessment typically involves, and practical things worth knowing beforehand.
OverwhelmSensory-friendly daily routines for adultsBuilding the same regulating-input idea behind a sensory diet into an adult schedule nobody else manages.
RoutinesHow can bedtime be made more sensory-friendly?Why bedtime is a uniquely hard sensory moment, and the specific adjustments to bedding, light, and sound that tend to help.
OverwhelmHow can travel be made easier for sensory sensitivities?Why travel is sensory-intensive even when it goes well, and practical ways to plan for it before, during, and after a trip.
OverwhelmWhat are hand-based grounding techniques, and why do they work?Why touch is often the fastest way back to the present moment during overwhelm, and a few specific techniques worth trying.
OverwhelmWhy do certain smells feel so overwhelming?Smell sensitivity explained, why it can hit harder than other senses, and practical ways to plan around it.
OverwhelmWhat is the difference between a meltdown and a shutdown?Both are responses to the same kind of overload, but they look almost opposite from the outside - and calling for different responses.
OverwhelmWhat is co-regulation, and how can parents use it during overwhelm?Why a dysregulated child usually needs a calm adult before they can calm down themselves, and what that looks like in the moment.