Understanding Sensory Processing: Its Role on our Behavior, Skill, and Learning, will be presented by Melanie Salort, Licensed and Certified Occupational Therapist on November 3 at Pierce Middle School.

Milton, MA– Sensory processing is a term that refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses. For many children, these messages aren’t received by the brain in an organized fashion which can affect behavior, skill development and learning. On Tuesday, November 3rd, the Milton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) invites parents and educators to join us at the Pierce Middle School Auditorium at 7pm for a presentation by Melanie Salort. Melanie will define sensory processing and explain how our senses play an integral role in our self-regulation, emotional regulation, skill acquisition, and learning. The topics discussed will better define when challenges in sensory processing exist and how to look for them. Ideas and strategies for home and the classroom will be discussed.

Melanie Salort is a Licensed and Certified Occupational Therapist. Educationally, she received her Bachelors Degree from Quinnipiac University. Upon graduation, she worked for 3 years in early intervention in East Boston. In 2003 she completed the Comprehensive Program in Sensory Integration and is SIPT certified. Soon after this certification, she began working at OTA-The Koomar Center. With over 10 years of experience in the area of sensory processing, Melanie has completed various training programs complimenting her work in sensory processing. She is a certified provider in the following listening therapies: Integrated Listening Systems (iLs), The Listening Program, and Therapeutic Listening. Melanie completed Level 1 and 2 of craniosacral therapy. Additional training has included visual vestibular work along with reflex integration. An area of interest has been picky eating and she has attended various courses and practiced using models such as the MORE approach and the SOS model.

In addition to her clinical experience in Sensory Processing, Melanie also has had experience with young infants and toddlers. She has worked on research with LADDERS (now known as TRANSCEND) on their infant sibling autism study. While in early intervention, Melanie trained with the Brazelton Institute to use their Clinical Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (CLNBAS).

Over the last few years, Melanie has focused on areas to support more specialized populations, such as individuals who have experienced trauma and attachment issues and various challenging behaviors. She has attended trainings with Dr. Dan Hughes, a psychologist who specializes in trauma and attachment. In addition she has attended trainings at Think:Kids, a collaborative thinking approach.

About Milton SEPAC:

We encourage those of you who are not members to join, and those who are members to volunteer and become more involved! It’s free, and your input is essential for the SEPAC to advocate and educate on issues that matter most to you. If you have not done so already, please check out our website for a link to an online parent survey: www.miltonsepac.org.

Please contact us with any questions/concerns at [email protected] (or by filling out a request form on our website under Contact Us).