This week, I had the opportunity to attend a four-day Module 3 course with ASI Wise, held at the Re Co Co (Recovery College Collective) building in Newcastle. This was the next step in my journey towards completing the ASI Wise and CLASI Certificate in Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI), having already completed Modules 1 and 2.
Module 3 focused on the 20 EASI assessments (Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration®), led by Kath Smith and her experienced team. The course was both energising and exhausting, packed with demonstrations, peer learning, and lots of hands-on practice.
About Kath Smith Kath Smith is a co-founder of ASI Wise and an internationally recognised occupational therapist with over 25 years of experience in sensory integration. She has worked extensively in child and adolescent mental health, trauma-informed care, and neurodevelopmental practice. In 2007, she was named Occupational Therapist of the Year by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). More recently, in 2024, Kath received the RCOT Merit Award, further acknowledging her leadership and contribution to the profession. She continues to shape the field through training, research, and the development of accessible, evidence-informed tools like the EASI.
What Are the EASI Assessments?
The EASI (Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration®) is a set of standardised assessments that help occupational therapists understand how individuals process sensory input and how this affects their everyday functioning. It focuses on four key areas:
- Sensory perception
- Postural and ocular control
- Praxis (motor planning)
- Sensory reactivity
The EASI was developed as a modern alternative to the older SIPT (Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests), which became outdated due to high licensing fees, limited cultural relevance, and outdated norms. In contrast, the EASI is free to access, culturally sensitive, and globally normed, making it more inclusive and relevant for today’s diverse populations.
The 20 assessments are particularly suited for children but can be adapted for use across the lifespan. They cover a wide range of skills including balance, bilateral coordination, sequencing, tactile discrimination, and eye movements. Designed to be engaging and developmentally appropriate, they provide valuable insight into how sensory integration challenges might present in real-life contexts.
Having the chance to observe, practise, and carry out these assessments in a supportive environment really brought the theory to life. It deepened my understanding of sensory processing and its impact, and reinforced how these tools can support more tailored and effective occupational therapy.
EASI Kit Prep: The Hidden Challenge!
What many people don’t realise is just how much preparation is required before even arriving at the training. Sourcing and assembling the full EASI kit was a mission!
With the generous (and very patient) help of my husband, we tackled tasks like drilling holes in bottle tops and filling bottles with uncooked rice (which inevitably got everywhere!). He also helped print and organise the many assessment sheets a surprisingly time-consuming task that needed to be done with care and precision. Being organised is key to delivering the assessments correctly.
Some items, like Test 18: EASI Tactile Perception, involve a lot of small components that need to be arranged in a very specific way. I waited until the training to finalise this part, and I’m glad I did. Kath was there to explain the proper setup.
One task I hadn’t completed before arriving was marking up a yoga mat with 18 equally spaced 10cm lines for one of the assessments. As it turned out, others had made errors in theirs, so waiting gave me the benefit of Kath’s team’s guidance to get it right.
Maintaining the EASI kit will be just as important as preparing it. It’s essential to ensure that all materials are clean, complete, and stored hygienically, in line with Trust infection prevention and control policies. This helps preserve the standardisation of the assessments and ensures safe, ethical practice when working across different settings.
Managing the Demands with Reasonable Adjustments
The course was physically and mentally demanding, long days in an unfamiliar environment, constant concentration, and the physical nature of the assessments all required careful planning on my part.
To manage this, I stayed overnight in Newcastle for the duration of the course, with support from my husband. He assisted with personal care and helped me navigate the practical challenges of being away from home in a setting that wasn’t always accessible. His support gave me the energy and headspace to fully participate each day.
Some of the EASI assessments require good hand-eye coordination, balance, and physical demonstration. Due to my disability, I had a supportive conversation with Kath about how I could approach this. These are standardised tests and must be delivered correctly, but that doesn’t mean I have to deliver them alone.
We explored the option of working alongside trained colleagues in my Trust. They can carry out the physical demonstrations while I lead the assessment process and interpret the outcomes. It was refreshing to be on a course where inclusion wasn’t a last-minute adjustment, it was thoughtfully embedded into the experience.
Connections, Collaboration and What’s Next
I took part in this module alongside other occupational therapists from my Trust. Some I already knew, while others I hadn’t worked with before. Learning together gave us a chance to connect, share ideas, and lay the foundations for future collaboration, particularly around delivering EASI assessments in practice.
My next steps are to:
- Practise the assessments with family and friends
- Submit two filmed assessments using neurotypical children, to understand expected performance standards
- Complete a full EASI assessment with someone who reflects my typical client group
- Deliver a presentation based on this final assessment
I’m also looking at how I can work jointly with colleagues to ensure inclusive delivery while maintaining the integrity of the assessments.
A Complex but Rewarding Learning Journey
It’s worth noting that the course setup is quite complex. There are multiple platforms involved, which can feel overwhelming at first:
- Telegram – Used for communication and updates from other learners and tutors.
- ASI Wise website – Hosts your My Learning portal for course materials
- CLASI website – International training partner (Collaborative for Leadership in Ayres Sensory Integration®) where the self-study learning modules are housed.
- Shared Google Drive – Used to store and share your coursework and ongoing learning.
- Ulster University Blackboard – Where formal academic submissions are made.
It’s a lot to manage! My top tip is to create a bookmarks folder in your web browser with all the key links saved in one place. This has helped me keep track of everything. That said, I still get confused now and then, but the Telegram group is a great place to ask questions and get quick support when you need it.
Final Thoughts
This week has been one of growth, challenge, and pride. I’ve strengthened my understanding of sensory integration, developed new practical skills, and most importantly, learned how to make the process inclusive for myself and others.
The EASI training isn’t easy it stretches you both clinically and logistically but it’s incredibly rewarding. It’s reminded me that high-quality occupational therapy doesn’t come from doing things despite difference, but by finding ways to include difference in how we practise, learn, and lead.
I’m excited to continue my journey with ASI Wise and look forward to applying what I’ve learned to better support the people I work with one meaningful occupation at a time.
