Tactile

Tactile tools provide calming touch input to the hands and body. They are helpful for individuals who enjoy feeling textures or need grounding input.

Examples:

• Therapy putty
• Textured balls
• Pop-its
• Sensory bins
• Fidget cubes

Supports:

• Emotional regulation
• Texture tolerance
• Fine motor development
• Hand strength
• Grounding and calming

Oral

Oral sensory tools support individuals who regulate through chewing or mouth input. They can improve focus and reduce unsafe chewing behaviors.

Examples:

• Chewelry
• Chew tubes
• Pencil toppers
• Oral motor tools

Supports:

• Self-regulation
• Focus and attention
• Anxiety reduction
• Oral motor strength
• Safe chewing alternatives

Visual

Visual tools promote relaxation, visual tracking, and calm engagement.

Examples:

• Glitter jars
• Liquid timers
• Fiber-optic lights
• Bubble tubes

Supports:

• Calm attention
• Emotional regulation
• Visual tracking
• Transition support
• Environmental comfort

Propioceptive

Proprioceptive input helps the body feel organized and secure. These tools are often very calming and support emotional regulation.

Examples:

• Weighted lap pads
• Body socks
• Resistance bands
• Weighted animals
• Compression vests

Supports:

• Body awareness
• Emotional regulation
• Calm focus
• Coordination
• Postural stability

Vestibular

The vestibular system helps the body understand movement, balance, and spatial orientation. It plays a key role in coordination, attention, and emotional regulation.

Some individuals with autism may seek movement input, while others may feel overwhelmed by fast or unpredictable motion.

Vestibular supports help organize the nervous system, improve body awareness, and promote calm engagement in daily activities.

Examples:

• Platform swings
• Hammock swings
• Scooter boards
• Therapy balls
• Spinning seats
• Rocking chairs
• Trampolines

Supports:

• Balance and coordination
• Attention and alertness
• Postural control
• Emotional regulation
• Body awareness

Auditory

The auditory system processes sound — including volume, tone, and environmental noise.

Individuals with autism may experience hypersensitivity (over-responsiveness) or hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness) to sound.

Auditory supports help individuals feel safe, regulated, and better able to focus in noisy environments.

Examples:

• Noise-canceling headphones
• Calming music
• White noise machines
• Sound machines
• Quiet corners
• Auditory breaks

Supports:

• Sound tolerance
• Focus and attention
• Emotional regulation
• Environmental comfort
• Communication engagement

Fidgets

Fidgets keep hands busy so the brain can stay focused. They are excellent supports for learning, transitions, and waiting periods.

Examples:

• Pop-its
• Tangles
• Marble mesh
• Infinity cubes
• Spinners
• Stretch strings
• Nee-Doh Fidgets

Relaxation

When Tiki Mojito needs to reset, he visits his Calm Corner — a cozy space filled with sensory supports that help him relax and refocus.

Examples:

• Squeeze a fidget
• Use a weighted blanket
• Practice deep breathing
• Sit in his sensory tent
• Watch calming lights