Navigating Sensory Processing Supports in Mentor Exempted Village Schools: A Parent’s Guide

If you're a parent in the Mentor Exempted Village School District (MEVSD) navigating sensory processing supports for your neurodivergent child, you’re not alone. This guide is here to help you understand how sensory needs impact your child’s learning and daily school experience—and how to secure the right supports through MEVSD’s special education services and the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. Think of this as your calm, capable companion on the journey to ensuring your child’s sensory needs are met at school.

Sensory processing is how the nervous system receives, organizes, and responds to sensory information—things like sights, sounds, touch, movement, and smells. When sensory processing works differently, children might be hypersensitive (over-responsive) to things like loud noises or bright lights, making environments overwhelming. Or they might be hyposensitive (under-responsive), seeking extra input, like touching everything or moving constantly, to feel regulated. For example, a child who covers their ears during loud fire drills is showing hypersensitivity, while another who constantly fidgets or bumps into things might be hyposensitive.

These differences can make everyday school life challenging, affecting attention, behavior, and learning. Understanding these sensory needs is the first step to getting the right support.

MEVSD serves over 7,700 students across 13 schools, including the Cardinal Autism Resource and Education School (CARES), dedicated to students with autism aged 6 to 22. Many students face sensory processing challenges, and the district offers a continuum of special education services designed to meet these needs.

Sensory supports in MEVSD might include scheduled sensory breaks, quiet spaces, weighted vests, noise-canceling headphones, or visual schedules. Classrooms may be arranged to reduce sensory overload by controlling lighting and sound. These supports are integrated into each student’s IEP, making them personalized and legally documented.

Take Emily, whose son Lucas is hypersensitive to noise and bright lights. At school, Lucas would often become overwhelmed, leading to meltdowns that left Emily feeling helpless. Through the MEVSD IEP process, Emily advocated for sensory breaks and noise-canceling headphones. With these supports, Lucas could better manage his sensory input, stay calmer, and participate more fully in class. Emily’s journey shows how understanding sensory needs and speaking up can make a real difference.

The IEP process can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down step-by-step helps:

1. Referral and Evaluation: Your child is referred for a special education evaluation. MEVSD assesses sensory processing challenges and other needs to determine eligibility.

2. Eligibility Determination: The IEP team—including you, educators, and specialists—decides if your child qualifies for services. Sensory processing difficulties often fall under categories like autism or other health impairments.

3. IEP Development: If eligible, the team creates an IEP tailored to your child’s needs. This is your time to advocate for sensory accommodations like breaks, tools, or quiet spaces.

4. Implementation and Monitoring: Educators implement the supports, and progress is regularly reviewed.

• Keep a Sensory Diary: Note what triggers or soothes your child daily. This concrete info helps the team understand real-world impacts.

• Gather Professional Reports: Share insights from occupational therapists or other specialists.

• Set Clear Goals: Think about what sensory supports will best help your child learn and feel comfortable.

• Practice Your Points: Try phrases like, “Lucas does best when he can take short sensory breaks,” or “Noise-canceling headphones help him focus during loud activities.”

Building a strong team is key. Educators and therapists bring expertise in sensory strategies, while Parent Mentors in Ohio guide families through the special education system and advocate for supports.

• Keep communication open and regular.
• Attend meetings prepared and ask questions.
• Use Parent Mentors as a resource for advice and community connections.

While working on school accommodations, you can try small sensory activities at home to support regulation:

• Gentle swinging or rocking motions.
• Playing with tactile toys like stress balls or textured fabrics.
• Deep pressure activities, such as gentle hugs or using a weighted blanket.
• Quiet time with soft music or dim lighting.

These can help your child feel more balanced and ready to engage.

• Parent Mentors: Personalized advocacy support through regional centers.
• MEVSD Special Education Office: Information on programs and services.
• Community Support Groups: Connect with other parents for emotional support and practical tips.

Navigating sensory processing supports can feel like a lot, but you don’t have to do it alone. NeuroMule is designed to be your calm, capable partner—helping you organize important information, track your child’s progress, and prepare confidently for meetings. With NeuroMule, you can lighten your load and gain peace of mind, knowing you have tailored tools to support your advocacy journey.

Take the next step with confidence—you’ve got this, and NeuroMule is here to help every step of the way.