Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) is a well-established and growing area of therapeutic practice with applications in various settings including the home, school, and community. Developed by A. Jean Ayres, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, an occupational therapist, psychologist, and neuroscientist, this framework was originally shown to be effective with children with learning and behavior difficulties and has since emerged as an evidence-based practice for use with children with autism. Applications have been broadly applied with individuals with a variety of disabilities and age- groups. ASI is trademarked to help researchers, therapists, and parents identify the core principles which define ASI and to differentiate this evidence-based intervention from other approaches which may use some aspects of sensory-based activities, but do not meet the criteria for ASI.

The Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration© (EASI) is a set of tests which measure the core constructs of Ayres Sensory Integration (i.e., sensory perception; ocular, postural, & bilateral integration; praxis; and sensory reactivity.) The tests are “open access” meaning that appropriately trained professionals will be able to obtain the files needed for printing the test sheets, test forms, and test manual and they can obtain the other materials needed for administering and scoring the tests, without copyright restrictions. The EASI is designed to assess children ages 3-12 years of age, with comparison to an international normative data sample.

The EASI authors, Zoe Mailloux, Susanne Smith Roley, and Diane Parham, developed the EASI with the help of countless international volunteers. Since the EASI was developed to increase accessibility and equity in the availability of comprehensive assessments for children worldwide, the tests are offered in a non-profit model. Professionals who are trained on the EASI will be able to gather their own test materials from regular stores and online sources. It is estimated that the cost of EASI test materials and storage containers will be approximately $200-$300 USD, which includes the current cost of the 3D printed shapes, available from numerous verified 3D printers around the world. While the first year of scoring is free, to sustain the scoring platform, there will be an annual fee of $50 USD for unlimited access to EASI scoring. Financial assistance for the ESP is availaible. Click here to learn more.

Dr. Ayres’ training as an occupational therapist had great influence on the way she developed sensory integration theory, therefore, this approach is primarily an occupational therapy intervention. However, Dr. Ayres also recognized that physical therapy and speech-language therapy graduate level educational programs also prepared those therapists for applying the ASI approach appropriately. In addition, Dr. Ayres was a licensed psychologist who relied on her training in that domain to recognize the power of psychometrically sound assessments and research studies. With Dr. Ayres’ perspective in mind, CLASI Modules 2 & 3 are open to healthcare professionals with at least bachelor level equivalent college/university degrees in occupational therapy, speech pathology, physical therapy, psychology, or medicine.

Access to the EASI Scoring Program will require completion of CLASI Modules 2 & 3. EASI normative data collectors who have submitted at least 5 data sets will receive a certificate of equivalency for CLASI Modules 2 & 3, once data entries are verified. These individuals will also have met the requirements for using the EASI scoring program. Initial access to the ESP is provided with completion of CLASI Modules 2 & 3 (or with a certificate of equivalency for the international normative data collectors who meet the requirements). Subsequent access will likely be on an annual subscription basis, with a nominal annual fee.

The current version of the EASI does not yet include basal or ceiling levels by age, nor discontinuation criteria (all of which will be included when the final norms are collected and analyzed). The current time needed to administer the full set of 20 tests is estimated at 2.5 to 3 hours, typically split over two sessions. Once the tests are finalized, we expect that proficient testers will be able to administer and score the tests in 1 to 1.5 hour.

Dr. Ayres was committed to careful assessment throughout her career and the trajectory of ASI has a long and rich history of evolution in the development of evaluation tools. We view the EASI as part of that evolution and expect that additional assessment tools will be developed in the future. The SIPT was the last set of a long series of tests that Dr. Ayres developed. They set the standard for performance testing in sensory integration, and they will continue to be useful tools. The EASI will assess all the functions measured by the SIPT, plus additional sensory integrative functions not included in the SIPT. The EASI covers a broader age range (3-12 years versus 4-8 years), has international norms and is made available outside of a “for-profit” model”, with the goal of facilitating access to comprehensive assessment for all children. Professionals will decide which tools best fit the needs of their clinical practices.

Although it is common for professionals to refer to themselves as being “SIPT certified” or SIPT trained,” most ASI related training programs in this century (i.e., since 2000) have emphasized the full ASI framework from theory through intervention. This is true for programs which meet international standards. Professionals who completed ASI certification programs which included the SIPT can continue to use the knowledge and skills they achieved in that training. Use of the EASI will require additional training. Completion of CLASI Modules 2 & 3 is required for accessing the ESP.

EASI normative data collectors who have submitted at least 5 data sets will receive a certificate of equivalency for CLASI Modules 2 & 3, once data entries are verified. These individuals will also have met the requirements for using the ESP. The CLASI Certificate in ASI includes 6 modules, so the other 4 modules must be completed to receive the full Certificate in ASI. CLASI partners with many international organizations which also offer Certificates in ASI. Specific requirements for each program should be verified with the program organizers.