Custom Made for Neurodiversity: Why It Matters

Have you ever searched for a weighted plush or weighted blanket online? Your results are likely flooded with Temu and AliExpress listings, showing identical products—same colours, same sizes, same fabrics. These mass-produced items may work for some, but they often fail to meet the unique needs of neurodiverse individuals.

Or maybe you've been advised to use a social story to help your child understand a big transition, like starting school or toilet training. You search online, but everything you find feels generic. These tools are most effective when they feature real, familiar elements—pictures of your child’s actual school, classroom, and teacher—not generic clip art.

This is why Sensory Tree was created: to provide truly customized products that cater to individual needs, not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Why Are Custom Products Important?

For the neurodiverse community, resources like weighted blankets, social stories, anxiety kits, and communication tools need to offer consistency, stability, and familiarity. A communication card with a generic teacher illustration won’t have the same impact as one featuring the child’s actual teacher and their name.

I often hear from customers who say, “We tried a weighted blanket, but it didn’t work.” When I ask for details, 9 times out of 10, the issue is that the blanket is too heavy, making the user feel trapped or uncomfortable. Another common problem is that mass-produced weighted blankets are designed based on bed size rather than the weight and needs of the person using them. These factors greatly affect whether a weighted product provides comfort and regulation. (See more about weighted blankets here.)

When you buy a custom-made item, you’re getting something designed specifically for the person using it—not a mass-market product made to fit a broad audience.

What Products Can Be Customized at Sensory Tree?

At Sensory Tree, we offer a wide range of fully customizable products, including:

• Weighted Items: Blankets, vests, lap pads, wraps, plushies, and dolls—all made to the exact size, weight, and fabric preferences of the user. We can even use a special fabric or blanket you already have at home.
• Dementia & Stroke Recovery Items: Personalized with photos of family members, pets, preferred fabrics, and tailored features to match ability needs.
• Communication Tools: Social stories, communication cards, schedules, routine charts, food boards, clocks, and keyrings—made with real photos and personalized details.
• Sensory Kits: Many of our sensory boxes and anxiety kits allow you to choose colours and specific items that best suit your needs.
• Gift Wrapping Options: Whether it's bubble wrap, clear wrap, colourful paper, a reusable calico bag, or biodegradable packing chips, we offer packaging that suits the sensory needs of the recipient.

How Does the Customization Process Work?

Customizing an item at Sensory Tree is simple and designed to fit your needs:

1. Pre-set Customization Options: Many products in our shop have drop-down menus where you can select sizes, weights, fabrics, and other options. You can also leave additional notes in the comment box at checkout.
2. Custom Order Form: If you need something more specific, you can fill out our custom order form, where we’ll ask a series of questions to understand your needs. From there, we’ll send you design ideas and pricing, working with you until the product is exactly what you need. (For more details, click here.)
3. Personalized Communication: We’re happy to chat via phone, email, WhatsApp, or text—whichever method works best for you!

At Sensory Tree, we believe in creating products for the person, not the market. Whether it's a weighted blanket made to the right weight or a communication tool featuring real-life images, every product is designed with the user’s unique needs in mind.

Want to learn more? Browse our shop or reach out—we’re always happy to help!