Therapist FAQ
General
POSITION STATEMENT ON THE ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH SENSORY INTEGRATION DIFFICULTIES
SAISI POSITION PAPER ON THE BRUSHING PROTOCOL
Scope of practise for occupational therapists delivering Ayres Sensory Integration® services in South Africa
EASI Process
What is EASI?
The Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration (EASI) is an assessment instrument that measures sensory reactivity, sensory perception, postural/ocular/bilateral motor integration, and praxis, designed for children 3-12 years of age. The authors of the EASI are Zoe Mailloux (OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA), L. Diane Parham (PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA), and Susanne Smith Roley (OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA).
The EASI provides a valid and reliable set of tests for assessing key sensory integration functions underlying learning, behavior, and participation The inclusion of core functions was a priority for the authors to fully assess sensory integration and to identify patterns of dysfunction so that participation challenges can be understood and addressed appropriately and effectively.
It was developed so that children around the world would have access to a feasible, practical, and comprehensive assessment of sensory integration functions and the influences of culture, language comprehension, and prior experience are minimized.
The EASI is not owned by a for-profit entity and will be available to appropriately trained professionals, in a low-cost and accessible format. It is expected that it will take a trained and competent tester 1 to 1.5 hours to administer and score the 20 tests. Scoring methods were designed to be as simple and as straightforward as possible. All test materials are not standardized except for the tactile 3D shapes and some downloadable test sheets. Verbal directions are provided in the language the child speaks most fluently and translators such as teachers or parents may assist test examiners in explaining the idea of a test. There are no “standardized” verbal instructions except for the Praxis: Following Directions (Pr: FD) test item. These instructions have already been translated into all 11 SA languages. Final scoring will be done online for which a minimal annual licence fee will apply. Preliminary norms are expected to become available by October 2021.
For more information on other frequently asked questions as indicated below please visit: https://www.cl-asi.org/easi
SIPT/EASI conversion
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X5nG86NQF3S3PZZxwiBAfLQsVU5M6cNy/view
Normative data collection
CLASI
Who/ what is CLASI?
The Collaborative for Leadership in Ayres Sensory Integration (CLASI) was co-founded by first-generation students of Dr. A. Jean Ayres and are committed to excellence and research in practice which was a non-negotiable for Dr Ayres. They provide innovative and customized partnership, scholarship, and mentorship opportunities for mastering, applying and advancing knowledge in Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) theory and practice to support and develop leaders in the field, promote knowledge development, disseminate evidence-based information and facilitate learning and skills. SAISI has partnered with CLASI to present the training on the EASI and they will also be involved in the SIPT/EASI conversion process for members already trained in the SIPT. For more information about CLASI please visit their website at https://www.cl-asi.org
If training is not possible at the moment and I would do the training via CLASI (US) could this training be accredited via the HPCSA, to your knowledge?
SIPT training
Reliable and valid test blog
What is SASIC 1 entail?
What is SASIC 2 entail?
What is SASIC 3 entail?
Protocols Am I allowed to use a child for my protocol case if he/she has received some therapy?
Protocols o Am I allowed to use a child with an additional diagnosis e.g ADHD
What is SASIC 4 entail?
SASIC 4 focuses on the art of intervention strategies within the Ayres Sensory Integration® frame of reference. The outcome is to expand the participant’s knowledge of ASI® Intervention and enable them to apply fidelity principles within the field of occupational therapy. The implementation of an intervention plan based on the interpretation of test results is demonstrated and discussed. Clinical reasoning and case-based problem solving are used throughout. The art of sensory integration therapy is taught.
How many years do I have to complete my full SIPT training through SAISI?
The theory course (SASIC 1) and the administration of the assessment course (SASIC 2) can be completed in one year.
Is the SIPT qualifications equal to a Masters degree?
Do I need to attend all courses consecutively?
SASIC 1 Theory
SASIC 2 Test Administration
SASIC 3 Test Interpretation
SASIC 4 Treatment
Can course requirements change during my training period?
Courses may alter during the process to ensure quality training and to maintain ICEASI standards, and participants will be informed accordingly.
Is the SAISI qualification recognised in other countries?
SAISI is a member of the ICEASI (International Council for Education in Ayres Sensory Integration). Yes, our courses are recognized
ETHICS for ASI therapists
Stationary guidelines according to the HPCSA and OTASA?
• There is a difference between advertising e.g. on your website and other marketing materials, and professional stationery in question (business cards, letterheads and perhaps email signatures (grey area)).
• Based on feedback you received from Matty van Niekerk who served on the Board of Occupational Therapy for the HPCSA, information on professional stationery should be limited to (only relevant points in question from HPCSA Booklet 2 included below, Matty’s comments in purple):
a) speciality or sub-speciality or field of professional practice (if any); – OT’s may not state that we are specialised. There is no specialist register for Occupational Therapy. We may however state that we have a special interest in an area, i.e. “With a special interest in paediatrics and sensory integration”
b) registered qualifications or other academic qualifications or honorary degrees in abbreviated form; This is the grey area – keep it simple, be honest, state factual information only,
• Organisations that offer training and qualifications often keep a register of those who have completed their training. You can only add the qualification or training to your stationery once it has been completed. SAISI has a public directory accessible on our website for those who have completed their training in ASI through SAISI. Suggestion is that you include the training body in brackets after the qualification e.g. SIPT & ASI FM (SAISI)
• SAISI does not have jurisdiction over other training courses and will limit their input to training in ASI in South Africa according to ICEASI standards.
• Guidance regarding inclusion of other training and qualifications on formal stationery should be left to OTASA or the OT Board of the HPCSA for consideration. SAQA is not mentioned specifically in the guidelines, and what constitutes an academic qualification is debateable.
What wording can we use on our websites and CV's regarding our qualification as ASI therapists?
Report or letterhead: ASI® trained (SAISI)
Description: (candidate) has qualified through SAISI (South African Institute for Sensory Integration) as the official training body for Ayres Sensory Integration in South Africa. SAISI is a member of the ICEASI (International Council for Education in Ayres Sensory Integration).
General ethics
What is an ethical dilemma?
What is my responsibility as an OT?
How do I submit an ethical query?
Contact: Contact Us
Confidentiality
What are my responsibilities in terms of respecting my client’s confidentiality?
Do I have to get consent to share progress with other team members?
Online support
Teletherapy and how it works
Online workshops
Journal clubs
What is a journal club?
How do they work?
Do I have to get consent to share progress with other team members?
ICEASI
Who/what is the ICEASI?
The International Council for Education in Sensory Integration (ICEASI) provides an inclusive, supportive community, which promotes best practice and work to internationally raise standards of education and training in Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI). This council was officially founded in Portugal in April 2018 and the first council meeting was held in May 2018, Cape Town, South Africa. SAISI is a proud founder member of ICEASI. An objective of ICEASI is the standardisation of education internationally, leading to ‘ICEASI acknowledged International Certification in Ayres Sensory Integration®’. According to ICEASI standards outcomes of training must include amongst other the following:
• Neuroscience: neurophysiology and anatomy, sensory systems and how they interact to facilitate function
• Administration and scoring of reliable and valid assessment tools designed to evaluate sensory perception, praxis and related motor functions (currently there is a shift from training in the use of the SIPT to the use of the EASI)
• Patterns of dysfunction as defined by ASI theory
• Knowledge on when to use and apply ASI according to the ASI-Fidelity Measure
• Use of existing clinical reasoning models such as Data Driven Decision Making
It is important to note that the ICEASI will not acknowledge courses that are only presented online.
ICEASI also supports research and present the International Sensory Integration Congresses (ISIC). SAISI presented the first ISIC congress in 2018 in Cape Town.