This webinar aired on June 5th, 2025 and is now available On-Demand. Register to watch now and view the resources to accompany the content of this presentation.
Taking care of an autistic child or adult who has sensory differences can make daily routines more challenging—like getting dressed, eating, or leaving the house.
In our next Signature Series webinar, Occupational Therapist Moira Peña will share practical, sensory-based strategies that can make daily life at home easier. You’ll learn how sensory differences affect activities like brushing teeth, mealtimes, and transitions—and how to support your child in a way that works for them.
In an interview with moderator Matt Ley, Moira will explain how the brain processes sensory information and how her BEST approach (Body, Emotional, Sensory, Thinking) can help. She’ll also share examples of real tools and techniques you can use right away—like sensory diets (sensory support plan), calming spaces, and co-regulation strategies.
What you’ll learn:
- What sensory processing is and how it affects daily life and routines
- What a sensory support plan (also known as a sensory diet) is and how it helps
- How the BEST approach supports routines and emotions
- Real-life sensory tools you can use at home to create a more autism-friendly space
Register here to watch this discussion On-Demand.
This webinar is for autistic individuals, caregivers, siblings, family members, and professionals who support the autism community.
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Meet Our Speaker: Moira Peña, BScOT, MOT, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Moira Peña, BScOT, MOT, OT Reg. (Ont.), is an occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience supporting autistic children, youth, and their families. She works at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto and is also the founder of Moira Peña Sensory Workshops, where she delivers professional development trainings for healthcare professionals.
Moira is passionate about using a sensory processing lens to support autistic individuals in respectful, practical, and meaningful ways. She believes this approach is a powerful tool for providing neurodiversity-affirming care, as it is both strengths-based and grounded in the lived experiences of autistic people.
She is the creator and host of Holland Bloorview’s Autism Summit—a knowledge-sharing initiative that includes informative summits, a coaching program for occupational therapists, an open-access autism resource toolkit, and the co-developed Autism Occupational Therapy Guiding Principles, created in collaboration with autistic adults, families, and professionals.
Moira is also an expert hub team member of the ECHO Ontario Autism Program and ECHO Autismo Neurodiversidad Argentina, where she supports clinicians and educators in building their skills to deliver 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.
Meet Our Moderator: Matt Ley
Matt Ley is the current President and co-founder of The Streaming Network. Starting his career in virtual events in 2007, Matt is an industry veteran who is passionate about helping customers stand out in their industry with compelling virtual events that people want to attend. The driving ambition for Matt is that virtual events are not a utility for information distribution but an opportunity for firms to create a competitive advantage. Matt is an accomplished moderator, dedicated to creating engaging, accessible virtual experiences that resonate with audiences and provide meaningful value.
Disclaimer: Opinions reflected in this webinar are those of the speaker(s) and presenter(s), and do not necessarily reflect Autism Ontario’s views. Please note that Autism Ontario does not endorse any specific therapy, product, treatment, strategy, opinions, service, or individual. We do, however, endorse your right to information. Autism Ontario strongly believes that it is important to do your own research and make your own informed decisions.