2020 Christmas News

2020 has been quite a year, with ordinary people being asked to do extraordinary things – to find energy to work yet another shift, to alter almost every part of how they work to ensure their clients and practice meets the most current guidance and advice.

This requirement has been met by the therapists within our ASI Wise Community of Practice, with determination and courage, matched with extraordinary passion to support children, families, teens and those who are older with sensory integration challenges. The restrictions of the pandemic have not made it easy for families, our young people, nor for therapists and the toll on everyone’s mental health and resilience is acknowledged. Our “community” has responded in so many extraordinary ways.

This year the ASI 2020 Centennial celebration in LA could not happen, and we sadly missed a rendezvous with all our colleagues from across the globe. CLASI’s Wine Down Wednesdays were a great way to reflect on the past, present and future of ASI with expert speakers and therapists regularly gathering online from across the globe.

If you missed out on any this Summer, they are available for Winter watching via CLASI’s website, including Kath and Ros’ contribution on working with adults. Technology has enabled the International Vision and projects to develop ASI, and its practice across the globe, to continue despite COVID-19. ICEASI launched its website last month and we look forward to their updates and news about international programmes and education in Ayres’ SI. The minimum standards for education in ASI have now been published after many years of international debate and discussion and you can see these guidelines on the new website at www.iceasi.org.

Sarah Chierico left ASI Wise on 14 December 2020. Sarah has been with us as a member representing parents and those with sensory integration challenges. She has fulfilled this role since we started ASI Wise and has been great in her support of Ayres’ Sensory Integration on the Social Media team and in her role supporting the Education team to develop and deliver a range of modules and workshops. Sarah leaves us to pursue her career as an Occupational Therapist with Mosaic Children’s Therapy Centre Limited. We wish Sarah all the best in her future.

It has been a privilege to be actively involved in the EASI Project, as Regional and country leads and to have gathered together an amazing group of

normative data collection therapists collecting normative data for this new international assessment. Data from the British Isles is currently being analysed for the EASI preliminary norms for English speaking countries.

Kath, Ros and Mandy are excited about next year’s ASI Wise modules after attending the first M3 for US delegates, where the EASI was the focus test used to help delegates learn assessment skills about the constructs of Ayres’ SI. This was taught by Dr Zoe Mailloux and we were delighted to be included alongside other international instructors to observe this new test being taught online; live and interactive. Moving into 2021, ASI-Wise’s Module 3 will now include this focus on the EASI, with exciting news about the EASI norms and data collection received recently from Zoe and the team in the US. See the EASI 2020 Update for more news.

It has been inspiring how therapists have joined in and supported ASI Wise initiatives like ‘Sensory Stuck at Home’, jumped into webinars about adapting practice to deliver services online, including doing complex assessments and building Sensory Ladders on Zoom. The quick response was possible by accelerating projects already in development including Parenting Through the Senses and our Trauma, Mental Health & Wellbeing 10 Series Workshop’.

The online groups have truly shown the metal and commitment of our wider community – with advice, resources, discussion, virtual coffee and chat shared generously, often after a tricky day juggling and adapting to ever changing demands at work. It was inspiring how our community responded to each request and question, generously supporting each other.

To finish; this has been an extraordinary year. We have all been challenged beyond what we could ever have imagined, at this time last year. Not all plans could be actioned, but together we have created a responsive adaptive community of practice, emerging stronger and better equipped to meet the needs of those whom we serve, maintaining our professional standards and commitment to Ayres’ Sensory Integration.

We wish you all a calm, restful and peaceful start to 2021. Season’s Greetings to all and from ASI-Wise….Onwards!

The ASI Wise Team