If you've spent any time in OT spaces, online, in practice, or in MDT chats, you’ll know that the word “sensory” gets used in just about every possible way. We hear about sensory diets, sensory trays, sensory corners, sensory rooms, sensory behaviours… and somewhere in the mix, Ayres Sensory Integration often gets blended in too.

And that's precisely why we created our ASI Wise Position Statement. Not to police anyone's practice, but to bring some much-needed clarity, confidence and shared language to what “sensory integration” actually means, and how it sits alongside the sensory-based work so many therapists do every day.

At Sensory Project, we appreciate that sensory-informed approaches have become increasingly common across schools, clinics, homes, and mental health settings. It means people are becoming aware of the nervous system, discussing regulation, and considering participation more compassionately. But we also know this can sometimes make things confusing:

• Is a sensory diet the same as ASI?
• Is playing on a swing considered sensory integration therapy?
• If a child loves fidgets, is that ASI?
• What counts as “proper” sensory assessment?
• Do all sensory strategies fall under the category of sensory integration?

These are genuinely common questions, and they’re so essential to answer well.

So here’s the heart of it:

Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) is a specific, theory-driven, fidelity-guided intervention.
Sensory-based practice is broader, practical, and widely applied, but it is not the same as ASI.

And that distinction really matters, not for gatekeeping, but for good practice, good communication, and good outcomes.

Why the difference matters (in real life):

• Families deserve clear explanations about what therapy includes.
• Services need to commission the correct type of input.
• Practitioners need language that matches what they're actually delivering
• Teams benefit when everyone shares the same understanding.
• And most importantly, people deserve interventions that match their needs.

When we blur the two terms, it becomes hard to explain our reasoning, justify our decisions, or show evidence of impact. When we use them clearly, everything gets easier: assessment, documentation, communication, and service design.

So what is ASI?

In simple terms, ASI is:

• assessment + reasoning + playful, purposeful, active intervention
• rooted in neuroscience and praxis
• focused on adaptive responses
• led by the child or person
• delivered by trained practitioners
• supported by fidelity measures

And what about sensory-based practice?

That includes things like:

• environmental adaptations
• sensory ladders
• daily regulation strategies
• proprioceptive and vestibular supports
• classroom adaptations
• sensory-friendly routines

All incredibly valuable. All important. Just not the same as ASI.

Why we wrote the full position statement

We want to ensure that therapists, regardless of where they trained or the setting in which they work, feel informed, supported, and equipped to discuss sensory integration confidently.
We also want families, teachers, psychologists, commissioners, and MDT partners to understand what to expect from ASI and when a sensory-based approach might be the right fit.

The position statement provides a shared starting point: simple, straightforward, and honest information, free from jargon and judgment.

Want to dive deeper?

You can read the full ASI Wise Position Statement on our website. It's free, open-access and designed for sharing with colleagues, teams and families.

Read more here