The most common question I receive about the Sensory Empowerment Program is, “What does a Sensory Empowerment Plan look like?” A Sensory Empowerment Plan (or SEP) is one of the most critical pieces of Proud Autistic Coaching’s Sensory Empowerment Program. In the program, we spend the first three weeks collecting information in order to build your SEP, then spend the last four weeks testing and optimizing your SEP so that you can continue using it for the rest of your life. It is so much more than a typical sensory diet. But what does it contain?
Sensory Needs Overview- The SEP starts with an overview of your personal sensory needs. We collect this information through your Sensory Profile Evaluation, Sensory Diary, and questions during our sessions together. I then include your sensory fuel and sensory triggers in your plan for easy reference.
Suggested Techniques- The first part of the “Solutions” section of the plan is full of protective techniques tailored to your sensory needs and the specific environments that are most challenging for you. For example, if being out in crowds is overwhelming for you, we have suggestions for how to both avoid those situations and manage the triggering aspects of them.
Suggested Frequent Activities- The solutions continue with suggestions for regulating activities that you can incorporate into your day. This sensory fuel, as I like to call it, will balance out your sensory needs (I share some examples in this blog post). These are specific to the environments you are in most frequently.
Sample Daily Routine- These techniques and activities are building blocks that you use to build your own daily routines, but we also include a sample routine as a place to start.
Sensory Tool Recommendations- A 4-5 page list of recommended tools tailored to your sensory needs. For example, if you are sensitive to sound, I have a carefully curated list of 20+ tools that will help protect your sensitive ears in many different environments and provide relief. I’ve included tools for all eight sensory systems. If you are highly sensitive in one area, the list includes protective tools, and if you are sensory seeking in an area, the list includes regulating tools.
I hope you can see what an invaluable document this is! A Sensory Empowerment Plan contains everything you need to protect and soothe your eight sensory systems every day of your life. By the end of the Sensory Empowerment Program, you will have used and tested this plan so that it is exactly what you need to take care of your autistic sensory system. Many of these techniques and activities will become second nature by the time you complete the program. I truly hope it can change your life.
P.S. If you’re wondering whether a Sensory Empowerment Plan would benefit you, you may find answers in my blog posts, “Are You the Master of Your Senses or Ruled By Them? The 10 Signs You Need a Sensory Empowerment Plan” and “Stop Treating Your Orchid Like a Cactus: A New Approach to Autistic Burnout 🌵.”
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