Two years ago, at ISIC 2018 in South Africa, we were reminded how A Jean Ayres persisted despite lack of funding, critique of her new ideas and theory, including from her occupational therapy peers.
A Jean Ayres was ‘way ahead of her time’ – many disbelieved that her theory of sensory integration and neural plasticity was relevant in occupational therapy for children, let alone for adults. Many did not agree that children (and adults) might benefit from occupational therapy using her newly developed theory and the therapy she called Sensory Integration.
Even today – nearly 50 years later, therapists and parents in many places are still required to persist if they wish to;
- access occupational therapy using Ayres’ theory of sensory integration
- secure funding to train in Ayres’ Sensory Integration,
- develop sensory integration informed treatment pathways
- assess and use Ayres’ SI to inform therapy aimed at improving the daily lives of children and adults across the lifespan.
The ASI 2020 Vision is about “nevertheless persisting” in ASI, providing a means to address the next steps and stages of development of the theory of Ayres’ SI.