ISIC2025/2026
The Translation of the Sensory Ladders Clinical Tool Cultural Adaptation and Co-Production for use across the Globe
Authors | Bernike Maarsingh, Ammar Morad Alashkar, Ana Sainz, Katie Crowfoot, Maggie Ruth Morton, Catherine Hauvette, Amanda Adamson, Rosalind Urwin, Kathryn Smith
Global Translation of Sensory Ladders® Clinical Tool: Cultural Adaptation for Sensory Integration Practice
This research poster presents findings from a pioneering multi-site pilot study on the translation and cultural adaptation of Sensory Ladders®, a clinical tool designed to support sensory regulation,communication, and participation for individuals with sensory integration and processing differences.
Outcomes:
- using a structured, fidelity-anchored approach, Sensory Ladders® has been successfully translated into multiple languages, including French, Spanish, Greek, Croatian, and Lithuanian, while maintaining alignment with Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) principles.
- the study demonstrates how co-production with people with lived experience, carers, and practitioners enables culturally responsive adaptation that enhances therapeutic alliance and supports data-driven decision-making.
Key findings show:
- that effective translation requires consideration of metaphors, colour association, and visual representations that carry culturally specific meanings.
- When used alongside companion tools (Sensory Spiders and Tracks), Sensory Ladders® supports goal setting, monitoring change over time, and structured case review across mental health, neurodevelopmental, learning disability, and trauma services.
This innovative approach enables global scalability of evidence-based sensory integration tools while preventing theoretical drift and ensuring cultural relevance across diverse therapeutic contexts.
Would you like to contribute to this Project?
You can find below the different translations across the globe:
Sensory Ladders Across the Globe
Check all Sensory Ladders® translations across the globe
