This is the final blog in the series about SAISI’s exciting new tool, the SAISI model of SI and Occupational performance, written by Ninette Visser.
The first blog by Amy Rode provided an overview of the model and how it can assist therapists in communicating with parents, teachers, and caregivers. The second blog by Marié Greyling discussed how the model can help therapists in planning Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI®) therapy sessions, providing session-to-session feedback, and supporting record-keeping. This final blog in the series will explore the use of the SAISI model for report-writing.
Occupational therapists write reports to document assessments, track progress, justify interventions, and communicate recommendations to parents, teachers, and healthcare providers. These reports serve as essential tools for ensuring a child receives the appropriate support and services tailored to their needs.
Marié already explained that models provide simplified, concrete explanations of ASI® concepts, aiding in the understanding of the science behind ASI®. Report-writing helps to create a clear and structured clinical picture of a child by organising observations, assessment findings, and functional impacts into a coherent narrative.
I remember my frustration as a young therapist with report-writing in private practice. Common issues included:
- Finding time to write a report.
- Ensuring objective observations that fairly represent the child’s strengths and challenges.
- Making practical recommendations.
- Avoiding excessive OT jargon and using accessible language for parents and stakeholders.
- Justifying services and motivating parents to consider OT for their children.
I have learnt that report-writing is a process that helps me to understand a child’s strengths and challenges. There is no universal template for report-writing, as each case requires a unique approach. During this process, observations, test scores, and feedback from parents and schools are organised into an integrated overview. This process helps me to identify patterns, clarify strengths and difficulties, and it supports decisions regarding intervention strategies, therapy goals, and referrals. As Isaac Asimov said, “Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers.”
I have come to the conclusion that a well-written report allows me to articulate findings effectively to parents, teachers, and other professionals involved in the child’s care. It gives me a picture of the child in my head BUT I still need to be able to communicate this picture effectively to parents, teachers, doctors and other team members. I wholeheartedly agree with Amy Rode that linking what we have evaluated to what the functional challenges are, is our job and responsibility, and communicating this, our challenge.
Over the years, I have changed my report-writing template several times. Currently, one of my “go to” report-writing templates is based on the SAISI Model of Sensory Integration and Occupational Performance. This model is partly based on the interpretation worksheet we use in our ASI® evaluation process and includes icons for easier understanding. (Amy Rode’s first blog in this series provides a detailed explanation of the SAISI model.)
Including the model in your report template ensures clear documentation of essential information, making it easy for parents, teachers, and other professionals to understand the child’s challenges and to link them to function and recommended interventions:
Key sections in my template are:
- Basic Information: This includes the child’s name, age, gender, date of assessment, and report completion date.
- Source of Referral and Reason for Referral: Identifies who requested the assessment and the reason behind it.
- Background & History: A concise and relevant summary of the child’s developmental history, parent/teacher concerns, previous therapies or interventions, relevant social or emotional factors, and the child’s specific strengths or interests.
- Assessment Methods: Describes the standardised tests used, clinical observations, input from parents and teachers, and play-based and functional task assessments.
- Discussion of Assessment Results (Findings & Observations): This section applies the sensory integration model, explaining the two fundamental aspects: sensory reactivity and sensory perception. The model is presented in a layered approach, from bottom to top.
I circle or colour-code the applicable sensory system icons and provide a brief summary of findings specific to the child.
The next layers are Sensory-motor development and Refined Motor skills, including Praxis. I circle the relevant icons and add specific discussions that are specific to the child, linking sensory systems and the challenges with regards to reactivity or perception to the Sensory-motor development and refined motor skills. You can add in Visuo-praxis separately, depending on the case you need to explain. As Amy mentioned, these sensory-motor skills are familiar to parents and teachers and include Gross and Fine motor skills, Postural Control, and Bilateral Coordination. Making the link between these skills and the two previous layers of Sensory Reactivity and Sensory Perception helps novices to understand their importance.
Finally, I explain how these developmental fundamentals have impacted the child’s executive functions, relating them to ADLs. Highlighting the OT’s focus on function helps parents understand the benefits of OT for their child.
- Recommendations such as therapy frequency, additional referrals to other professionals, strategies to support development, environmental modifications or accommodations.
- Therapist’s Signature, credentials & Contact Information
I include the full model with reference to SAISI on the last page.
The feedback from parents and other professionals has been very positive; with the report being able to explain assessment results and link them to the challenges that their children face at home or school.
Thank you, SAISI, for this visual tool that aids my clinical reasoning and keeps the therapy team informed and aligned.
