Understanding Sensory Needs: Supporting Regulation at Home and in School

How can we better support neurodivergent individuals in everyday environments? In this session, Katie Kirkman provides a practical, accessible guide for parents, educators, and caregivers on creating sensory-supportive spaces at home and in school. This presentation explores how sensory processing differences impact behavior, learning, and emotional regulation, and offers real-world strategies to reduce overwhelm and promote comfort. In this video, you’ll learn: • How neurodivergent individuals experience sensory input differently • The role of stimming as a natural and necessary form of regulation • The importance of lesser-known sensory systems like proprioceptive, vestibular, and interoceptive processing • Simple ways to create calmer, more predictable environments Practical strategies include: • Adjusting lighting to reduce overstimulation • Managing sound and noise levels • Reducing visual clutter and improving organization • Using visual schedules to support predictability • Supporting regulation through movement, breathing, and co-regulation This session reinforces an important shift: behaviors are not “problems” — they are communication and signals of a nervous system that may need support. 📌 Whether you’re supporting someone at home, in school, or in your community, this video offers tools you can begin using right away. At ACANY & LIFEPlan CCO, we support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in coordinating services that align with their goals and long-term independence. About LIFEPlan CCO and ACANY 👇 LIFEPlan CCO and Advance Care Alliance New York (ACANY) support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across New York State by helping them find, coordinate, and access services that support health, independence, and community living. Through care management, education, advocacy, and community partnerships, we help individuals and families navigate the disability service system and connect to the supports they need. 👉Subscribe to our YouTube channel-    / @ccanycommunity   💡Learn More & Get Support 👉LIFEPlan CCO- https://lifeplanccony.com/ 👉Advance Care Alliance New York (ACANY)-https://acany.org/ 👉Knowledge Center- https://knowledgecenterny.com/ 👉Disability Services NY (DSNY)- https://www.disabilityservicesny.org/ 👉My Choice Supplemental Needs Trust- https://mychoicetrust.org/ 👉Community Networking Events- https://acany.org/community-networkin... Connect With Us - LIFEPlan CCO 👉Facebook-   / lifeplanccony   👉Instagram-   / lifeplanccony   👉LinkedIn-   / lifeplanccony   Connect With Us – Advance Care Alliance New York (ACANY) 👉Facebook-   / advancecareallianceny   👉Instagram-   / aca__ny   👉LinkedIn-   / advance-care-alliance