Sensory Sessions with Sophie

Hello new followers! 👋
Here is a little summary about my role and the support I offer to children and families in Berkshire and surrounding areas.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch via messenger 😊

Please sign the petition - https://c.org/MXzCXXktQG

Merlin has removed “difficulty with crowds” from Ride Access Pass eligibility, with immediate effect and no notice for guests with upcoming visits.

For many neurodivergent people, this is the key access need and its removal means they simply can’t attend.

This is deeply upsetting and leaves families feeling increasingly excluded from parts of society they’ve always enjoyed 🎢

I’d welcome direct engagement with to discuss the real-world impact of this change - Merlin, please reach out 🔊

And guys, please share below how this will impact you and your families if you feel comfortable 💙

It’s been a little while since I last posted on here (honestly, I’m not great with social media and things have been busy behind the scenes) — but I’m still here and working hard as ever.

Just wanted to check in, say hello, and hope everyone’s doing well 🤍 Thanks for sticking around!

Wishing all my wonderful families and followers a very Merry Christmas, and happy new year! 🥂🎄🎁

Lots of love
Sophie 🩷

🌟 NEW FREE POSTER! 🌟 Link in bio (Linktree) So many of us use “autistic” instead of ASD, and there’s a really important reason why. Autism isn’t a disorder to fix — it’s a neurotype, a natural way that some of us experience the world. Identity-first language (“autistic”) reflects our lived experience, our pride and our right to be understood on our own terms. My free poster breaks down: ✨ What a neurotype is ✨ Why “autistic” is respectful, accurate language ✨ What’s wrong with the word “disorder” ✨ How neuroaffirmative language helps autistic people get the RIGHT support ✨ Simple ways to ask people about the language they prefer This poster is Easy Read, colourful, and perfect for schools, clinics, families, and allies who want to use language that truly honours autistic voices. 💛 Download it for free through the link in my bio. Please share it with anyone who needs it! Created by: Sorcha Rice, autistic ADHD PDA’er @ot_sorcharice #AutisticNotASD #Neuroaffirming #Neurodiversity #AutisticVoice #AutisticPride #IdentityFirstLanguage #AutisticCommunity #PDAProfile #PDAAutistic #ActuallyAutistic #AutisticAdvocacy #NeurodivergentSupport #ChildLedTherapy #TraumaInformed #OccupationalTherapist #OTLife #InclusiveEducation

I hope everyone is having a lovely half term so far, thankfully the weather has been good! 🍁⛅️

I’ve had three sessions today, and at the end of my last session, the young person I was working with handed me this note. Not only has it made my day (🥹!) - it shows me how far he has come since his first session, as he is highly anxious and has taken some time for him to trust me. Moments like this remind me why I do this job 🩷

For any questions about the service I offer, please do not hesitate to contact me via messenger 😊

I have received a few messages about my sensory training course. At the moment, it is not something I am offering, however I hope to start offering them again in the future.

In the meantime, Sensory Integration Education offers a free short course on Sensory Processing and Integration. I would highly recommend to parents/carers and professionals.

Sensory Processing & Integration Explore the eight sensory systems and understand sensory processing differences in this engaging course. Gain insights into how sensory challenges impact daily

I attended an online workshop this evening, delivered by PANS PANDAS UK. It’s something I didn’t know existed and had not heard of in the 12 years I have been doing this job. I’m so glad I attended the workshop.
They offer regular training sessions to raise awareness. I would highly recommend, especially to my colleagues working in Education!

Knowing to consider PANS and PANDAS could make all the difference to a child or young person's life.

This PANS PANDAS Awareness Day, simply re-share this post and help us make change happen.

For more information about these post-infectious conditions, go to the insta bio, and use the linktree for further links.

Another summer break over ☀️🙁
I’m sure there will be lots of anxious children (and parents/carers) this week as the new academic year approaches…but please remind your children:

My out of office is on, ready for a restful break…we made it! ✅

However, school holidays (especially the summer break) can be an overwhelming time for some young people, and adults! With the change of routine, uncertainty of events/plans and anxiety around the transition to a new class/setting in September, it can be a challenging time for everyone in the household.

Here are three of my top tips. My messenger is always open, even if it’s just to rant! 🩷