The Think Sensory Summit · Season 1 · Part 3
Sensory Harmony at Home: When Everyone's Needs Are Different
Presented by Alicia Trautwein
This session is part of the All-Access Pass
Included with the All-Access Pass
- Length
- 32:37
Managing a household where family members have vastly different sensory needs can feel overwhelming - from conflicting food preferences to competing sound sensitivities, from car ride chaos to bedtime battles. In this practical conversation, Alicia Trautwein, autistic mother of four neurodivergent children, shares hard-won strategies for creating sensory harmony when everyone needs something different. Drawing from years of real-world experience, Alicia offers concrete solutions for common challenges: the "unsloppy sloppy joe," strategic car seating with sensory stations, managing multiple toothpaste preferences, and the art of "variety night" dinners. She discusses how to honor everyone's sensory needs (including your own) while maintaining family connection, the importance of open communication about sensory preferences, and practical bathroom and bedtime strategies that reduce daily friction. This session provides actionable tips for creating an environment where all family members can thrive, while acknowledging that perfection isn't the goal - finding what works for your unique family is.
Alicia Trautwein
Alicia Trautwein is an autism advocate, speaker, writer, and mother of four who brings both personal experience and professional insight to her work. As the creator of The Mom Kind, a leading blog and podcast focused on parenting neurodiverse families, Alicia shares practical tools, resources, and encouragement with thousands of readers and listeners worldwide. Diagnosed with autism herself after three of her children received their diagnoses, Alicia offers a rare and authentic perspective on the challenges and joys of raising a neurodiverse family. Her content blends research-based strategies with real-life understanding, making complex topics accessible for both parents and professionals. She is a regular contributor to Autism Parenting Magazine and has been featured on the Win Win Women Network in her segment Unmasking Autism with Alicia Trautwein. Through speaking engagements, workshops, and online platforms, Alicia empowers families, educators, and clinicians to create environments where autistic individuals can thrive. Alicia’s mission is simple: to foster understanding, acceptance, and advocacy so that every child, autistic or not, can feel valued and supported.
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