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A Jean Ayres

The EASI has a strong foundation in the history and research that underpins Ayres’ Sensory Integration, with the development of the test being led by Dr Zoe Mailloux, Dr A Jean Ayre’s Research Assistant for the development of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests, published in 1989.

Like the EASI, the SIPT was developed with reference to an earlier set of tests, these original tests, the Southern Californian Sensory Integration Tests (SCSIT) were Ayres’ original tests for identifying sensory integration difficulties.

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Mandy, Zoe, Ros and Kath about to meet earlier this year to explore the UK and Ireland’s contribution to the EASI INDC.

Part of the development of the EASI includes the collection of normative data across the globe. This global project included the establishment of EASI U.K. and Ireland normative data collection team. This team is led by Regional Lead, Kath Smith, an ASI WISE Director alongside other ASI WISE Directors Ros Urwin (country lead – England) and Amanda Adamson (country lead – Scotland).

Join EASI

ASI WISE supports research in progress: the development of the EASI – a new set of tests to identify sensory integration difficulties. Currently, research and developments in Ayres’ Sensory Integration are very exciting, as a new test the EASI is being developed.

To date the ASI WISE team have helped to review items in development, creating a social media space to gather therapists trained in or learning ASI from across the UK and Ireland and most recently in developing the UK and Ireland contribution to helping international testers learn the EASI so normative data collection can happen.

 

black and white business career close upHere are some FAQ about joining the UK and Ireland INDC Teams:

  1. I’ve signed up. Can you remind me what level ASI training people need to be at? I’ve got staff that have done SI1 and SI2  or ASI WISE’s equivalent M1, M2 and M3

The testing teams will need other volunteers beyond the testers so all volunteers are welcome. Testers are likely to be more experienced in ASI assessment, but each tester will have a No 2 and other helpers in the test spaces will be assisting with the general running of the testing days including admin, support and keeping adults and children happy.  So it doesn’t matter where therapists are on their journey, they are welcome, as are enthusiastic OT Techs, teachers or others willing to give of their time.

2. I’ve signed up to the EASI project. Have further details been emailed yet?

The first week of September 2018 is the final push to get everyone who wants to contribute – those who have signed up should have had an email confirming this at the time and due to GDPR, everyone on the list will be getting an update at the end of this week.  The team are just catching any last minute joiners, who have only heard about the EASI on the most recent SI1 and SI2, and M1, M2 and M3 courses.

3. How soon will the EASI be available to use in practice?

The EASI will be launched at the ASI 2020 Vision event to be held in LA in 2020. We will share information about this as it becomes available.

4. Is it a waste of time learning the SIPT now if the EASI is about to be launched?

Most comprehensive courses training therapists to be practitioners of  Ayres’ Sensory Integration have historically taught SIPT administration, scoring and interpretation as a way to deepen earlier learning about the sensory systems and how individual sensory systems contribute to sensory integration. Doing this helps therapists new to sensory integration to understand the complex nature of sensory integration, to explore and understand sensory integration patterns identified in the research and seen in practice and how these ultimately underpin function and for some, difficulties in participating in daily life. Most modular programmes now teach about the EASI and its development alongside learning about the research that is underpinning its development.

Here is a copy of a slide from a presentation by Dr Smith Roley explaining the process of the EASI Test Development. Click here or below for the whole presentation.

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