Sensory-Friendly Session Kit

What it is

Bright lights, a humming fan, a strong air freshener, a stiff chair: for many autistic clients and anyone with sensory differences, the room itself can use up the energy a session needs. This kit helps you ask what each person needs, set up your office or home visit around it, and hand them real choices every time you meet. It's built for helpers: counselors, social workers, in-home and community providers, mentors, tutors, and anyone who meets clients in an office, a school, a home, or out in the community. It works for every age, with picture boards for kids and a calm, no-pictures version for teens and adults.

What's included

• Start here: four simple principles and a four-step way to use the kit
• Before We Meet, part 1: how the person communicates best, plus what's hard and what helps for sound, light, touch, smell, movement, mouth, and temperature
• Before We Meet, part 2: lights, sound, where they sit, where you sit, looking, hello and goodbye, breaks, and "please don't"
• Room Setup checklist: light, sound, smell, seating, what you see, hands, a way out, and knowing what's next
• Home + Community Visits checklist: before you go, at the door, once inside, out and about, and quick questions for the family
• The Sensory Go-Bag: a packing list for ears, eyes, hands, body, mouth, and planning, with clean + safe notes
• A Predictable Session: a six-part session shape, signs it may be too much, and what to do
• How I'd Like Today: a picture choice board (seat, lights, sound, how I'll share)
• Right Now I Need: 12 big picture tiles to point to (break, quiet, move, less talking, time to think, all done today, and more)
• Session Settings: the same choices for teens and adults, no pictures
• 8 break + ask cards ("Less talking, please." "Can I write it instead?" "I'm done for today.")
• In This Room, You Can: a sign for the wall or table (move, stim, look wherever you like, take a break, say "not now")
• Session Sensory Notes: a tracker for what helped, session by session
• Words That Fit: six everyday phrase swaps for helpers, plus notes on stimming and access

Great for