In my talk, I plan on traveling back in time with attendees through photos and childhood anecdotes to illustrate my happy, relatively typical youth, as well as the moments when it was clear to my parents, my teachers, and sometimes even myself that I was acting just shy of “normal,” for lack of a better term. I’ll guide them through my first psychological diagnosis of Panic Disorder at age 14, the complexities of my otherwise undiagnosed adolescence and the impact my sensitivities had on my inability to socialize to the extent I wanted as a friendly, engaging person. I’ll discuss my choice to go away from home for college, my decision to go back for an advanced degree, my work life, meeting my husband and other important romantic relationships, and ultimately what lead me to learn about my SPD and advocate for our cause. The main point of describing my life up until now will be to show parents and professionals that it’s possible to live a happy life as a sensory person – even as one who didn’t know about her diagnosis for the first 27 years of her life. I’ll discuss how I manage my SPD in adulthood – the therapies, tools, and techniques that have made my life simpler – as well as the idea of self-acceptance and awareness, which can be instilled at a young age, and allows a sensory person to understand their limitations and how to push beyond them when possible as they move through the phases of their life. I want the ultimate take-away to center around positivity: the strengths of a person with SPD, how to focus on these areas, and why it’s so crucial to see someone with SPD as more than just a title or a diagnostic box.

Intended Audience:Occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, physical therapists, special education teachers, psychologists, early intervention specialists, nurses, physicians, mental health providers and parents

Prerequisite: None

Presenter: Rachel S. Schneider, M.A., MHC was diagnosed with SPD in 2010 at age 27. With a background in mental health counseling and through her personal experiences, she has become an advocate and champion for the SPD community, especially for delayed-diagnosis adults and teens, who often go overlooked. Rachel's the author of the blog, "Coming to My Senses," the popular article, "The Neurotypicals' Guide to Adults with SPD," and her first book, "Making Sense: A Guide to Sensory Issues" was published by Sensory World in February.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will understand the complexities of growing up without a proper SPD diagnosis

Attendees will understand the importance of self-acceptance and accommodation, and the role they play in living with SPD.

Attendees will understand the positive aspects of having SPD

Continuing Education:The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation is an AOTA Approved Provider of Continuing Education. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

Upon full completion of the course video, participants must complete and pass a quiz with at least 80% accuracy to receive a certificate of completion.