Using a capstone experience to enhance inclusion and accessibility for individuals with sensory processing differences

Community-based settings, such as museums, can facilitate participation in various occupations, including education, play, leisure, and social interaction. However, sensory processing and integration differences can create barriers to participation and engagement in these environments (Fortuna et al., 2024; Silverman & Tyszka, 2017). While sensory differences affect between 5% and 16.5% of the general U.S. population, sensory processing difficulties are more prevalent among neurodivergent children (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2023). In studies of autistic children, 53% to 95% have demonstrated some degree of sensory processing difficulties (Jussila et al, 2020; Tomcheck & Dunn, 2007), and Jirikowic and colleagues (2020) found that 73% of a sample of children with prenatal alcohol exposure demonstrated atypical sensory processing.