"If I feel overwhelmed, they must feel it ten times as much."

This was an accurate observation from a fellow mom who spoke the truth.

I remember feeling the same way with my son, who is on the autism spectrum. I looked around our house and started to see our surroundings through his eyes.

His sensitivities are noises, textures and visual stimuli. When he was diagnosed I realized that I shared a lot of the same triggers, but to a lesser degree. I then began to see things at his level and was able to pinpoint ways to make him feel at ease.

Sometimes the things we surround ourselves with can be a tricky maze of sensory issues for our child. We may have had no idea, or we just realized it's a bigger problem than we thought. That's ok.

I would love to help you find ways to pinpoint frictions and create flow for your child and family. We have the same goals. For your child to grow, become as autonomous as they are able, and find happiness within this world.

If you are new to this journey or have been around for a while, don't be afraid to ask for help. Or to say you don't understand. Or take things slow. The most important part is that you and your child feel heard and validated.

Let's take a closer look.

Solutions

To limit sensory overload, together we will use a variety of tools to design welcoming spaces that make sense to your child. We work in tandem using your observations to help build the autonomy and rhythms your child craves. We also work with your therapist's recommendations to bridge their expertise into your home.

Need help bringing those ideas home? Here is a free Session Notes download (no email required) to take notes and track progress at your next appointment. I can then use these to zero in on the problem areas your child is having.

I love working with families to create…

Online Course

In-Person & Online Sessions

Sliding scale available.

About Me

Hi! I'm Katie Sanders, your Sensory Designer and friction problem-solver. It's a pleasure to meet you!

As a highly sensitive child, I didn't understand why I couldn't process as much sensory input as other kids. I was labeled as moody and shy, but it's only been later in life that I have found I am actually twice exceptional (2e). A blessing in disguise, this now allows me to understand my son's needs very well.

After graduating with a degree in Web Design and Interactive Media, I worked in a user experience and management capacity for a variety of companies, from tech startups to print and photography studios. My specialty is assessing how colors, shapes, placement, elements and stimuli influence a user's behavior, on screen or off. Since launching my web design business in 2005, I’ve worked with hundreds of clients, including award-winning bloggers, event producers, artists, retailers, authors and wellness providers.

My strengths as a mom of an autistic son swirl around designing systems that are easy for him to understand, providing easy wins and momentum. My design and project management backgrounds also lend curiosity about how systems can be improved.

At times I infuse the language of the elements into to my work as I find children can communicate their needs well when describing the sensations of earth, water, fire and air. Whether they are feeling too heavy, too light, too hot or cold, tempering the sensation with a counterbalanced element can help them feel more clear and calm.

My goal is to help families become brilliant support systems for their children, without depleting themselves.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Happy clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you help organize my home?
I do a lot of hands-on organizing during deep sessions as it provides me the opportunity to really dig into the problem areas. If you have a shorter session, try to prioritize as many big friction points as possible so I can be of the most help. I always try to end our session with momentum into our next one, or instruction on how you can complete ideas yourself.

My situation is unique. Can you handle it?
I view every family and child as unique, but I can't handle every situation. I would love to know more about your family and if I can't help, I can point you towards someone who can.

Are the sessions phone or video only?
I am available for home visits in the Seattle Area. For those further away, video/phone is all I can do at this time. Email me if you are elsewhere in the Puget Sound region.

I don't know if I have the time for this. Is it a lot of work?
Most of my clients know that this work can be labor intensive, but if I am working along side of you, it can go more quickly and efficiently. Sometimes getting pointed in the right direction can save you hours of time. My goal is that the new systems you implement will deliver more time in the long run that you can spend together as a family.

Do I need to buy all new organizers and specialty products?
In most cases I try to recommend using what you have. It's amazing to look around your home and come up with new and creative ways to use things. I have great Pinterest boards to give you ideas as well as advice during our sessions. There may be a case here and there that you may decide buying something if you think it will be highly effective. Try to see if you can test an idea before making large investments.

Who calls who?
I will call at our scheduled time you at the number/username you provide.

Can you accommodate a fluctuating schedule?
Yes. You get to pick the dates and times of our sessions that work best for you using my scheduler. Please schedule appointments when you can be focused and uninterrupted for maximum benefit. Following sessions can include your child if we are at a point where they are involved in making decisions.

What if I fall sick?
I can easily reschedule if you contact me 24 hours before our session. If you cancel the same day, my availability may be full and your next appointment may be pushed further out.

Do you offer refunds?
No, all sales are final and non-refundable.

What do the symbols of your tattoo mean?
They are the alchemy symbols for the elements – earth, water, fire and air – with the moon in the middle. I love to incorporate the elements into my work and find that children understand them easily for communicating their senses. If you are on mobile, the photo of my arm is not shown. Load this site on your desktop to check them out :)

Ready to get in touch?

(425) 373-5787   •   create@abeneficialspace.com

Have questions? You can email or book a free intro session to start, or you can dive into the self-guided course to create a Sensory Forecast for your child.