Module 5: Regulation and Sensory Processing

Summary

Students with complex needs will need assistance with regulation and sensory processing to help navigate their world. Co-regulation can assist that navigation so that students with complex needs have current and future quality of life.

Successful co-regulators are skilled at:

  • Observing the clues given by students
  • Assessing the levels of arousal and stimulation
  • Being aware of the sensory impact of the classroom and modifying elements within the classroom to make it more manageable
  • Being aware of the sensory impact of activities and modifying elements within the activity to make them more manageable
  • Being aware of specific disabilities and disorders and their impact on regulation and sensory processing
  • Assisting students with sensory processing
  • Modelling regulated behaviours and responses
  • Assisting the student to regulate in the context of always being included

Key Terms

Co-regulation
Supporting someone else to regulate through modeling your own regulated state.
Interoceptive
The sense that recognizes internal signals such as hot, cold, hungry, thirsty, and the urge to go to the bathroom.
Over-responsive
Heightened response to sensory input.
Proprioceptive
The sense that recognizes where our body parts are in space.
Regulation
A learned tool we use to manage our behaviours, feelings, thoughts, and energy self-regulation.
Sensory processing
When our brains interpret information from internal and external sources.
Under-responsive
Lowered response to sensory input.
Vestibular
The sense that recognizes the position and movement of our head in space.

References and Resources

Kuypers, L. (2011).The Zones of Regulation. A curriculum designed to foster self-regulation and emotional control. Retrieved from https://www.zonesofregulation.com/index.html

Shanker, S.G. (2011). The development of self-regulation.

Shanker, S.G. (2021). Self-Reg. Retrieved fromTherapy Works Inc. (n.d.). How does your engine run?

Your Therapy Source. (n.d.). Online resources for therapist, educators, and parents. Retrieved from www.yourtherapysource.com