Just back from our first ever family holiday abroad!
And I’d forgotten what airports were like!
The noise. The lights. The smell of perfume wafting from duty free. The endless queues and clashing trolleys. The amount of people!
It’s like every sense is switched to maximum volume. It’s so overwhelming.
It was a stark reminder of the way environments can affect our nervous systems, sometimes without us even realising it.
October is Sensory Processing Awareness Month, so I wanted to share a few reflections - and some ideas for making life (and work) feel a little less overwhelming for everyone.
But first - Introducing my new free MASTERCLASS…
From awareness to action - The missing link in neurodiversity at work
Wednesday 5th November 12:00-13:00 BST (online)
Join me to explore why so many neurodiversity initiatives stall at awareness and learn practical, confidence-building steps to create lasting change. Perfect for HR and EDI leaders, neurodiversity network leads, and allies who want to move from good intentions to real impact.
Today I’m talking about
Info: What sensory overload really feels like (and why it matters)
Tips: Ways to make daily life and work more sensory-friendly
Recommendations: More than usual this week so don’t skip this section!
We all have different sensory experiences.
But heightened, or more extreme, sensory needs are part of the lives of many neurodivergent people. Yet it’s something that many people don’t understand much about.
We have 8 senses (according to sensory processing theories) - including sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, two movement senses and even internal sensations.
Sensory processing describes the way the body receives, interprets, organises and responds to sensory stimuli through our senses.
For some, these sensory differences could mean being under-responsive: needing more intense input to feel regulated. For others, it’s the opposite - a world that’s too loud, too bright, too fast.
Think about:
The office coffee machine that sounds like a jet engine.
Neon strip lighting that flickers just enough to make your brain hurt.
Fabric that feels “wrong” but no one else notices.
Having to stay still when your body is desperate to move.
Now imagine that all day, every day. That’s not “sensitivity”. That’s the nervous system going into survival mode.
And for people with sensory processing disorder, it’s a daily battle just to stay calm, focused and be able to function.
Five sensory-friendly shifts that make a difference
Here are five small ways to reduce sensory overwhelm and make environments more inclusive:
Offer choices - one size doesn’t fit all. Let people opt out of noisy socials, camera-on meetings, or fluorescent lighting.
Normalise tools - noise-cancelling headphones, sunglasses indoors, fidget/focus tools or standing desks shouldn’t need justification.
Think “low arousal” spaces - whether it’s a breakout room at work or a sensory corner in class, everyone needs somewhere to decompress.
Avoid surprise touch or sudden noise - even a friendly tap on the shoulder can trigger someone’s stress response.
Ask about sensory needs, and listen. Just because you don’t notice it, doesn’t mean it’s not overwhelming for someone else.
Recommendations and what’s coming up
Masterclass: From awareness to action - The missing link in neurodiversity at work
Wednesday 5th November 12:00-13:00 BST - Join me to explore why so many neurodiversity initiatives stall at awareness and learn practical, confidence-building steps to create lasting change. Perfect for HR and EDI leaders, neurodiversity network leads, and allies who want to move from good intentions to real impact.
Reserve your place
Explainer video about Sensory Processing
A short, easy to understand explainer video about sensory processing. Share in your organisation, community, school or family to learn together and understand each other’s differences.
Watch the video here
Still time to register for my AI Week talk
Register for my session on Inclusion Intelligence - a look at how AI is being shaped, and how you can use it more inclusively. Fri 24th Oct, 2.30-3.00pm BST, online.
Sign up for free here
NeuroCurious event: The Sensory Experience, from The Womenhood
13th November 18:30-22:00 BST (in person in Hove, or livestream and recording available) - after a sell out launch event earlier in the year, NeuroCurious is back, this time exploring the sensory world of neurodivergence. online.
Get your tickets here
Final thought
We all process the world in different ways.
But the world isn’t built for all brains.
When we understand sensory needs, we make it possible to show up as we are - not just for neurodivergent people, but for everyone.
Speak soon,
Jess
PS Whenever you’re ready, here are some ways I can help:
Join the waitlist for our NeuroNavigator® programme and become a certified Neurodiversity Champion or Ally. Doors open in November for our next cohort (January 2026), waitlist access available a week early.
Want me to speak or run a workshop in your organisation? Head here to book a chat and make a plan.
Book a FREE Discovery call to chat through how I can support your workplace, your school or your family.
PPS Here's what a client wrote after a recent talk on AI and neuroinclusion recently… "Thank you both for a stellar webinar! Great job, all!” |