Who is The Sensory Specialist?

Meet Sarah James

Former psychology teacher.
Mum of two. Disability advocate.

I began The Sensory Specialist in 2020. I had previously taught for over ten years in Melbourne classrooms, and saw how under resourced classrooms were, and how teachers lacked training and support of sensory needs. I had taught students who couldn't get through a 40-minute lesson without a meltdown — not because they were difficult, but because sitting still in a plastic chair for hours is genuinely painful when your nervous system works differently. The individual learning plan for my neurodiverse students was to send them for a walk.

Now we know better: we want to keep these kids in the classroom, engaged and included — and the right tools make that possible.

I also see it as a mum. Both my kids are neurotypical — and yet at an AFL match at the MCG, one reaches straight for his ear muffs and heads for the sensory room, while the other is completely unfazed. Same upbringing, same environment. Sensory sensitivity doesn't require a diagnosis.

Sensory tools support children and adults alike — whether you're fitting out a school sensory room, looking for focus tools for a neurodiverse adult, or simply a mainstream family who wants to help an overwhelmed kid decompress after a big day.

Every person is wired differently. Our job is to make sure the right tools exist — curated with care, priced fairly, and available to everyone across Australia. We want to make inclusive supports accessible to everybody, no matter their age or ability.