Gentle Sensory

18/02/2026

In Australia, around 1 in 20 Children are navigating life with a brain that processes the world differently 🧠

Some children are being labelled as "naughty" simply because they have a difference in executive functioning.

ADHD isn't a choice, but how we support them is.

Here are a few myths about ADHD and why we need to bust them 👊🏻

10/02/2026

Welcoming Andrea to the Team ✨

"Driven to help every child reach their shiny potential."

Andrea’s career in disability support is rooted in family. Having grown up supporting a sister with complex needs, she turned that lived experience into a professional calling. After years of working in Melbourne and Macedon Ranges schools, she now brings her expertise to Gentle Sensory. Andrea is known for her person-centred care and her ability to build immediate trust with families. When she isn’t supporting clients, she’s likely hiking Mount Macedon or hitting the pavement on her roller skates.

To find out more about Andrea, head to:
https://www.gentlesensory.com/support-wellbeing/andrea

05/02/2026

✨ Exciting News! We are opening Expressions of Interest for our Music and Wellbeing Therapy Sessions! ✨

Are you looking for a supportive, creative space where your child can flourish through rhythm and movement? We are excited to open expressions of interest for our upcoming sessions.

Meet Our Facilitator: Donna 🎶
Donna is an energetic professional with a deep-rooted love for the performing arts.

Her background makes her uniquely qualified to lead these sessions with:
• Master of Creative Arts Therapy (Dance) completed at Melbourne University
• Experience as a Dance Instructor & Choreographer
• Allied Health experience with OTs and Speech Therapists

Register Your Interest 📝
https://forms.gle/s3WrKi4PM1M2PSKHA

03/02/2026

Safe, supportive, and sensory-friendly nutrition is here. 🌿

For many neurodivergent individuals, mealtimes can feel like a source of stress or a sensory minefield. Some autistic/ neurodivergent young people and adults are experiencing challenges with sensory sensitivities, fear of adverse consequences to eating, low appetite/ reduced interest in food and/or past negative experiences with eating. 💚

Because of this, we welcome back a familiar face to Gentle Sensory, Ashleigh Feltham (Accredited Practising Dietitian & Accredited Nutritionist). ✨

For those who haven’t met Ashleigh yet, she brings a powerhouse of experience and a truly compassionate heart to our team:

🌟Decades of Expertise: With over 18 years in the health and fitness industry, Ashleigh’s knowledge is both deep and diverse.
🌟 Clinical Excellence: With a Master's in Nutrition and Dietetics, she combines high-level science with a practical, lived-experience approach.
🌟A Heart for Neuro-Affirming Care: Ashleigh remains a leading voice in NDIS, autistic, and ADHD nutrition.

Ashleigh’s return means even more specialised support for our families navigating sensory feeding differences. Her approach remains exactly what we value most: No pressure, no "rules", just evidence-based, neuro-affirming care that respects every individual's unique needs.

To book your online session with Ashleigh, head to: www.gentlesensory.com

01/02/2026

In light of the news coming out of Perth, we would like to reach out to our community as well as express our deepest emotions.

Being a parent or caregiver to individuals who are struggling in this world can be immensely draining and isolating. We fight daily, constantly advocating for our children and young people to be accepted, supported and seen.

Even when supports are found, parents and caregivers can feel as though they are drowning, never having the time or support to look after themselves. Leading to compassion fatigue, exhaustion and burnout.

We hear you. We see you. We understand you.

Despite this, we must bring light to the two young people who lost their lives. Leon, 16, and Otis, 14. Two beautiful young people whose lives were ended way to soon.

For those struggling and needing immediate mental health support, please reach out to:

Lifeline
13 11 14

For those needing additional support and financial access to services, contact:

Carers Gateway
1800 422 737

Alternatively, our offices are always open to talk ins and a chat over a cup of coffee/tea.

28/01/2026

Last call for our term 1 social groups ✨

🌈 TERM 1 SOCIAL GROUPS🌈

We are so excited to open registrations for our Term 1 social groups! 🚀

This term we will be offering:

🎮 TUESDAYS: Peer-Led Games & Activities
Ages: 6–8 years
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
A fun, low-pressure space to play and connect.

🌱 THURSDAYS: Social & Wellbeing Group
Ages: 14–16 years
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Focusing on identity, connection, and mental wellness.

🤝 FRIDAYS: Social & Wellbeing Group
Ages: 12–14 years
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Building community and confidence in a safe setting.

⏳ Duration: Weekly throughout the duration of Term 1.

Ready to join us? Spaces are kept small to ensure everyone feels comfortable and supported.

🔗 Click here to register/enquire: https://forms.gle/8Ak5HnDqNPdtqPQr5
💬 Send us a DM for more info!

27/01/2026

Struggling with daily transitions or executive functioning challenges at home?✨

Visual schedules are more than just a list of tasks; they are a powerful, evidence-based tool to help reduce anxiety and build independence for neurodivergent individuals. But did you know that how you design them can make a huge difference?

In this insightful article by Gentle Sensory, you’ll learn:
🔹 Vertical vs. Horizontal: Why vertical layouts often reduce cognitive load and act as a "gravity-fed" system for the brain.
🔹 The Power of Contrast: How the right colours act as "visual anchors" while avoiding eye-straining "visual noise."
🔹 Less is More: Tips on creating a "visual island" to avoid clutter and meltdowns.
🔹 Age-Appropriate Steps: A guide on how many tasks to include based on your child's developmental stage.
🔹 Placement is Key: Why schedules need to be in high-traffic areas to combat "out of sight, out of mind" challenges.

Ready to transform your daily routine into a calmer, more predictable experience?

📖 Read the full guide here: https://www.gentlesensory.com/articles/the-power-of-a-visual-schedule

16/01/2026

📝 Dear The Neurodivergent Caregiver in Survival Mode 📝

To the caregiver who is currently staring at a mountain of laundry, a sink of dishes, and a calendar full of appointments while feeling like you’re walking through waist-deep mud: this is your permission to go "Low Demand" on yourself.

We talk a lot about "Low Demand Parenting" or lifestyles to support our neurodivergent kids and partners. We lower the pressure to help their nervous systems feel safe. But what about your nervous system?

Caregiver burnout in the neurodivergent world isn't just "being tired." It is a profound neurological depletion. It’s what happens when you spend 24/7 playing "detective," "translator," "advocate," and "sensory regulator" without a break.

When your cup is empty, you can’t just "self-care" your way out of it with a bubble bath. You need to stop the leaks.

Going "Low Demand" on yourself looks like:
✨ Lowering the Bar: Cereal for dinner is a win. Using paper plates to avoid dishes is a win.
✨Saying "No" Season: Saying no to social events, extra school commitments, or even "optional" chores that don't affect safety.
✨ Radical Sensory Care: Wearing your noise-cancelling headphones while you vacuum. Dimming the lights. Choosing the softest clothes.
✨ Dropping the Mask: Giving yourself permission to not "have it all together" or smile through the exhaustion.

Your worth is not measured by your productivity. Your family doesn't need a "perfect" caregiver; they need a regulated one. And you cannot regulate others when you are in a state of chronic internal alarm.

If you are in survival mode today, that is okay. Drop the demands. Breathe. Your only job right now is to exist and let your nervous system find its way back to baseline.

You have permission to rest. You have permission to let things slide. You have permission to take care of YOU. 🤟✨

13/01/2026

It’s not "just play", it's hard work! ✨

Ever wonder why your child’s therapy session looks like a game of LEGOs or dress-up? It’s because play is a child’s natural language. While adults use words to process their feelings, children use toys.

By prioritising play and connection, we are:
✅Building Safety: A child won’t open up if they don’t feel connected. Play is the bridge to that trust.
✅Processing Emotions: It’s easier to talk about a "scared dinosaur" than it is to talk about being scared at school.
✅Developing Skills: Play helps with problem-solving, emotional regulation, and social cues in real-time.

In this space, toys are the words and play is the conversation. ❤️

12/01/2026

What is Neuro-Affirming Support? 🧠✨

If you’ve been hearing the term "neuro-affirming" lately and wondering what it actually looks like in practice, you’re not alone.

Neuro-affirming means recognising that there is no "right" or "wrong" way for a brain to work. Instead of seeing Autism, ADHD, or Dyslexia as "broken" parts that need to be fixed or cured, a neuro-affirming approach sees them as natural variations of the human experience. It’s about accepting someone’s identity and adapting the world to fit them rather than forcing them to change to fit the world.

3 Signs of True Neuro-Affirming Support 📖
If you are looking for a therapist, school, or support program, here are the hallmarks of a neuro-affirming approach:

1. It prioritises Autonomy over Compliance ✋ In many traditional settings, "success" meant doing what you were told. In neuro-affirming support, the focus is on self-advocacy. It respects your "no" and asks, "What do you need to feel safe and comfortable?" rather than "How do I make you behave?"

2. It modifies the Environment, not the Person 🛠️ Instead of asking a child to "try harder" to ignore painful lights or loud noises, a neuro-affirming approach changes the setting. We look at sensory profiles, processing speeds, and anxiety triggers to create a space where the individual can actually thrive.

3. It values Connection 🤝 Communication is a two-way street! We embrace the Double Empathy Problem, which teaches that neurotypical and neurodivergent people simply have different "languages." We don't drill eye contact or suppress "stims"; we facilitate genuine connection through shared interests like LEGO, gaming, or art.

Why this shift matters ❤️
Historically, many therapies focused on "masking", teaching neurodivergent people to hide their true selves to blend in. We now know this leads to burnout and anxiety.

By choosing neuro-affirming support, we choose well-being, identity, and authentic joy. We aren't just providing "services", we are building a world that finally makes sense for every brain. 🌍🌈

08/01/2026

✨ Connection Over Compliance ✨

At Gentle Sensory, we aren't interested in "quiet hands" or forced eye contact. Why? Because those are markers of compliance, not of wellbeing. 🌿

When we prioritise compliance, we teach children that their value lies in how well they can hide their true selves to make others comfortable.

When we prioritise connection, we build a foundation of safety. From that safety, true growth, self-advocacy, and confidence grow. We meet the child where they are, not where a textbook says they "should" be.

A gentle reminder: One size doesn't fit all. Every child’s path to connection is unique, and our techniques are always modified to meet the diverse sensory and emotional needs of the individual.