This is a personal reflection on my experience attending ISIC 2026 in Portugal, an opportunity that felt like a true privilege. Being in a country so rich in history and culture while engaging with some of the most current thinking in sensory integration felt incredibly special. There was something meaningful about walking through ancient streets and visiting cathedrals after spending the day discussing how children’s brains develop through movement and play.
The conference itself was beautifully organised. I attended the pre-conference sessions with Isabelle Beaudry, Zoe Mailloux, Tsafi Bar-Shalita and Roseann Schaaf. I feel proud to have had my poster accepted to the conference, with the topic “Exploring the Relevance of Ayres Sensory Integration for Children with Cochlear Implants: A Scoping Review”. I was especially proud of the South African-bred and trained OTs, even if they no longer all reside in South Africa. We are just a step ahead of the world, and the quality of our work ethic and knowledge is so inspirational!
The talk that stayed with me the most was Anita Bundy’s message about risk in play. She challenged the idea that children need perfectly safe, controlled environments at all times. When we remove all risk, we also remove opportunity. Healthy, manageable risk, climbing higher than feels comfortable, balancing on uneven surfaces, jumping from “just a little bit too high”, is exactly what builds resilience, emotional regulation, and motor planning.
From a brain perspective, these moments matter. Risk activates problem-solving. It demands body awareness. It strengthens adaptive responses. It helps children learn: I can try. I can adjust. I can cope.
In our increasingly cautious world, this felt like an important reminder. Our role is not to eliminate challenge, but to support children through it.
ISIC 2026 left me inspired, not only by the research and the leaders in our profession, but by a renewed appreciation for something very simple: children need movement, challenge and healthy risk to grow strong brains.
Personally, I was reminded that growth, whether for our clients or ourselves, often begins the moment we step outside our comfort zones. For that, I am deeply grateful.
Written by Elrika Beukes
