When the parents of a child with special needs are first faced with their child’s diagnosis of a disorder like autism, Sensory Processing Disorder (also known as Sensory Integration Dysfunction), or ADHD, the prospect of wading through a sea of information and red tape to hunt down resources to help that child can seem utterly overwhelming. 

I should know. Four years ago, when my own child was first diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder (for more information on SPD/SID, read Lisa’s great description of the disorder here), I had a head full of questions about how to help him, and very little knowledge of where to turn for answers. Which is why I hope the following list of St. Louis-area resources for children with sensory problems will help local parents of children with special needs who are looking for help.

The sensory processing issues that are often associated with development delays in children can cause trouble in every aspect of a child’s life. A child with untreated sensory issues may struggle to eat at the family dinner table, feel overwhelmed at daycare or school, and may even have trouble keeping up with other children on the playground.

Therapy Resources

Recent medical research has shown that children with sensory disorders, autism, attention disorders and general developmental delays can all benefit from both occupational therapy and sensory integration therapy. And luckily, St. Louis has some great pediatric occupational therapy providers who specialize in helping children overcome sensory issues.

PS Kids in south St. Louis County offers a range of pediatric occupational therapy services for children with special needs, including special programs designed for children with sensory disorders. Their team of therapists provide occupational therapy in both individual and group setting at a specially designed pediatric occupational facility, and believe it or not, also make house calls throughout the metro area!

Leaps and Bounds  is another great pediatric occupational therapy practice in St. Peters, MO. In addition to proving group and individual occupational therapy services to children, they also conduct free educational seminars for parents of kids with sensory issues, and host a support group for parents of children with autism.

The Miriam Foundation  runs special after school and summer educational programs specifically tailored for children with sensory disorder, autism, attention problems or learning disabilities through the Miram School’s  Miram Learning Center. The Foundation also hosts a free seminar series  at the Miriam School aimed at parents and educators of children with special needs.

School Resources

When it comes to helping kids with special needs succeed in school, parents are often their children’s own best advocate. In the state of Missouri, it can unfortunately be particularly difficult to get special school assistance from pubic school districts for children with sensory disorders who have no other specific medical diagnosis, because Sensory Processing Disorder / Sensory Integration Dysfunction are not yet specifically recognized on the state’s list of medical diagnoses that require educational intervention. 

And even parents of children with a more widely recognized medical label often run into difficulty getting schools to take their children’s special educational needs seriously.

Here are a few agencies that can help if you run into trouble getting accommodations for your child’s sensory problems at school:

Missouri Parents as Teachers  can be a great resource for parents of toddlers or preschool aged children who would like more information on state early intervention programs that can help young children with special needs get on the right educational track before they even start elementary school.

MPACT  is an independent Missouri educational advocacy group that assists parents of children with special needs in getting their children access to appropriate educational assistance. They offer information on state and federal education law regarding children with developmental delays and disabilities, as well as advice, seminars and workshops for parents who need help navigating the complex paperwork involved with getting a child assistance through the public school system.

And of course, the Special School District of St. Louis County  offers information on the services they provide, as well as educational resources for parents, on their website.

Great Local Places for Kids with Sensory Issues to Play

The Missouri Botanical Garden’s  Children’s Garden in St. Louis City is, without a doubt, the best local outdoor playground I have personally seen for children who have sensory delays. With a collection of bouncy rope bridges, ladders and climbing walls of all shapes and sizes for children of varying abilities, a messy play art area with natural building materials and a sandbox, several (gentle, sprinkly, non-scary!) water play features, and many musical play features including wooden xylophones and wind chimes, all surrounded by scented herbs and brightly colored flowers, plus a dark cave for overwhelmed children to hide in when they need a break, this nature-themed playground is perfect for hours of therapeutic sensory play.

It seems, from my own personal parenting experience, that children with sensory issues or autism are often pleasantly obsessed with Things That Go, like cars and trains. And a great place to indulge that obsession while also encouraging your child to play well with others, climb ladders, and learn to tolerate loud noises is the St. Louis Museum of Transportation, which has way more trains than the Thomas the Tank engine table at the bookstore, and what’s more, lets you play inside them.

The St. Louis Mills Mall in Hazelwood features a full-sized indoor playground, which is great when your sensory-seeking kid needs to run off a little steam in the dead of winter or during a thunderstorm. It can be a little loud and crowded on weekday evenings and weekends, though, so I would recommend going in the morning on a weekday.

Jaelithe Judy is a St. Louis mom who blogs about politics, parenting, gardening, and anything else that strikes her fancy.  She is also an experienced search engine optimization consultant specializing in combined SEO and social media campaigns.

*Image thanks to Black Rock Preschool.