The BEST approach: Understanding autism and sensory processing through a strengths-based and neurodiversity-affirming lens (February 2026)

Online

Thursday, February 12 & Friday, February 13, 2026

10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

What time is this for me?

As our understanding of autism and co-occurring conditions continues to evolve, health care professionals, including occupational therapists, are being called upon to adopt strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming, and trauma-informed best practices to support participation in occupations that are meaningful to our clients and their families (e.g., Dallman et al., 2022; Kornblau & Robertson, 2021).

This two-day interactive workshop explores sensory processing, recommended assessments, evidence-based sensory-based interventions (SBIs), and strengths-based coaching approaches that you can utilize with neurodivergent children, teens, and adults who experience sensory processing differences* (including, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder as well as anxiety and other mental health conditions) to support occupational participation. The first day of the workshop will highlight the different sensory systems, relevant theories and research on sensory processing as well as an update on our current understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with implications for occupational therapy practice. Recommended assessments and outcome measures will also be identified and discussed. The second day will focus on the presenter’s BEST (Body, Emotional, Sensory, and Thinking) approach. The approach will be explored in detail and you will have the opportunity to consider how to develop a therapy plan using this approach while maintaining a neurodiversity-affirming and strengths-based stance.

Small group activities, case studies, practice opportunities, ongoing reflection, and discussion will be utilized throughout the two days.  

* Please note that the presenter’s clinical experience is primarily with autistic persons and that the case studies/videos used will focus on autism and common co-occurring conditions).

Preliminary workshop agenda

Day 1

Day 2

Learning objectives

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

1. Explain sensory processing, the eight sensory systems and understand their relationship with our physical and mental health.
2. Describe the impact of sensory processing challenges on the lived experience of autistic children, youth, and adults and their families.
3. Gain an understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), describe new ways of interpreting autism, and be aware of the latest relevant research findings that have implications for occupational therapy practice.
4. Describe different types of sensory-based behavioural responses and identify sources of interfering or challenging behaviours such as: anxiety co-occurring medical conditions, autistic behavioural characteristics, etc.
5. Select from recommended sensory processing assessments and outcome measures that best support our work with autistic and other neurodivergent people and their families while maintaining a neurodiversity-affirming stance.
6. Begin to implement the BEST (Body, Emotional, Sensory and Thinking) approach to support a person’s occupational participation.
7. Understand how to implement key solution-focused communication (SFC) principles and strengths-based approaches when supporting neurodivergent people and their families.
8. Articulate the key role of occupational therapy in supporting the occupational participation of autistic and other neurodivergent people within collaborative and multidisciplinary contexts.
   

Target audience

Occupational therapists, occupational therapist assistants, students in occupational therapy programs and other health professionals who work with neurodivergent children, youth and adults who present with sensory processing differences* (including, but not limited to autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder as well as anxiety and other mental health conditions)

Please note: This workshop was previously offered under the title “A comprehensive introduction to sensory processing and autism: Towards the development of a strengths-based and neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapy practice”. Each participant is responsible to ensure they apply the information within the context of their licensure, provincial/territorial legislations, institution regulations, scope of practice, etc.

Client age group

Young children (0-4 years old), Children (5-12 years old), Adolescents (13-19 years old), Adults (20-64 years old)

Areas of practice

Autism/Neurodiversity, Caregiver/Family Education, Generalist, Health Promotion & Wellness, Leadership & Change Agency, Occupational Therapist Assistant, Pediatrics, Sensory Integration & Processing

Workshop level

Beginner (0-2 years of experience in neurodiversity-affirming practice) 

Please note: Participants with more than this stated level of experience are welcome to attend the workshop. The workshop content will be geared towards those with 0-2 years of experience and/or those who are interested in learning about neurodiversity-affirming practices and taking steps towards embedding these into their practice. 

Presenter

Moira Peña, BScOT, MOT, OT Reg. (Ont.)

Moira Peña is an occupational therapist with over 25 years of experience who is passionate about equipping occupational therapy practitioners and other health care and education professionals with neurodiversity-affirming and strengths-based practice knowledge & skills that best support autistic people. She works at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and is the founder of Moira Peña Sensory Workshops, where she delivers professional development trainings. She is the creator and host of Holland Bloorview’s Autism Summit, a knowledge-sharing initiative featuring two international summits, a coaching program for occupational therapists, an open-access autism toolkit, and the Autism Occupational Therapy Guiding Principles—co-developed in collaboration with autistic individuals, families, and professionals. Moira is also an Expert Hub Team member of the ECHO Ontario Autism Program, supporting clinicians and educators in implementing best practices in autism care. She is a published author, an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto, and a certified Solution-Focused Healthcare Facilitator and Coach (C-SFHC). 

Registration fees

Registration deadline: February 12, 2026 at 9:59 a.m. (Eastern Time)

Please note that CAOT does not offer group registration fees. 

 *It may be more cost effective to become a CAOT Member or Associate rather than pay the non-member rate. See “Can a non-member register for a Workshop?” in our Professional Development FAQs to know which membership category you are eligible for.  

Included in your registration fee:

Two-day online workshop, access to the recording for a period of 14 days following the workshop, electronic copy of presentation slide handouts, opportunity to network and make connections with other occupational therapists interested in this topic, electronic certificate of attendance.

Cancellation/refund policy

All cancellation/refund requests must be sent in writing to education@caot.ca. All cancellation requests received by January 28, 2026 will be given a full refund minus a $50.00 administrative fee. No refunds will be given after January 28, 2026. Substitutions and transfers requests received by January 28, 2026 are permitted and are subject to a $50.00 administrative fee.

If you are exceptionally unable to complete the workshop, please reach out to education@caot.ca by 25 days following the end of the workshop for extended access to the recording (up to one month after the end of the workshop) or a one-time transfer to another offering of the same workshop if currently open for registration.  CAOT reserves the right to modify the workshop title, description, registration dates and information on the workshop webpage. CAOT will notify participants on or before January 2, 2026 if there is insufficient registration by that date and reserves the right to cancel a Workshop due to insufficient registration up until January 16, 2026. CAOT reserves the right to modify the offering, interrupt Workshops, change the timing of a Workshop, cancel a Workshop or change the technology for the Workshop due to the presenter no longer being able to present the Workshop, severe weather, power failure, building closures or other special circumstances that are beyond the control of CAOT by notifying participants as soon as possible. If the Workshop is cancelled by CAOT, registrants will receive a full refund of the registration fee. CAOT will not be responsible for other costs or expenses incurred by registrants as a result of any such changes.

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The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) is committed to accessibility as expressed in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We provide an electronic copy of the handouts approximately one week ahead of time in multiple slide layouts, auto-generated closed captioning through Zoom (excluding breakout rooms), as well as access to the recording for two weeks following the workshop. If you require additional special arrangements for accessibility, please contact education@caot.ca or 1-800-434-2268.    

Please note that workshop is offered in English.