The Foundation’s purpose, through this program, is to train the Foundation's Occupational Therapist in Sensory Integration, who in turn will be able to help the Foundation's trainees who face sensory challenges. By completing the series of training and learning experiences required for certification, the Occupational Therapist will develop a detailed understanding of the neuroscience and evidence base supporting sensory integration, as well as develop expertise in assessing and providing intervention to the Foundation’s trainees who present sensory integration problems. The ultimate purpose of this training is to deal with sensory disorders and regulate the behavior of the Foundation's trainees, so that they can accurately interpret the sensory messages they receive and carry out routines and activities such as those of daily life, work and social interaction.
Christos Stelios Ioannou Foundation offers vocational education and training services to adults with intellectual disabilities (trainees), with the ultimate goal of the vocational rehabilitation of these people, inside or outside the Foundation. The trainees work in the various workshops, where they are assessed and trained both in the vocational and social skills. Most of the Foundation's trainees experience some form of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). This disorder involves problems receiving and responding to sensory information from the environment. This causes difficulties in regulating behaviour and motor performance, with the result that their social and vocational skills are affected negatively. An occupational therapist is the professional who can help people learn strategies to deal with sensory challenges. This treatment is called Sensory Integration Therapy (SI). The purpose of this program is to train the Foundation's occupational therapist in SI, thus developing expertise in intervention for people with sensory integration problems.