S ensory integration is a long-standing and growing area of practice in occupational therapy. Debate and discussion with colleagues have led us to develop a proposed taxonomy reflecting a new classification scheme to enhance diagnostic specificity. The nosology proposed here is rooted in empirical data first published by Ayres (Ayres, 1972b, 1989) that has evolved based on empirical and theoretical information. This new nosology provides a viewpoint for discussion and research. Two sociopolitical trends contribute to the timeliness of the ideas presented. First, a call exists throughout health and developmental services for evidence-based practice (Sackett, Richardson, Rosenberg, & Haynes, 1997). Diagnostic precision is crucial for homogeneity of samples in empirical research, affecting the validity of the research findings. Second, the condition of sensory processing disorders (SPD) has recently been acknowledged outside the occupational therapy profession in three diagnostic classification references: the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood, Revised (known as the DC: 0-3R) (Zero to Three, 2005), the Diagnostic Manual for Infancy and Early Childhood of the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL, 2005), and the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM Task Force, 2006). Both manuals include diagnostic taxonomies with subtypes of SPD suggested by a committee of occupational therapists, who assisted in developing guidelines for diagnostic specificity related to sensory-based disorders (Miller, Cermak, Lane, Anzalone, & Koomar, 2004).

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The Centennial Vision makes it clear that the profession of occupational therapy is facing challenges that require members to move beyond clinical excellence toward larger health care initiatives (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2007). Accomplishing this goal requires the development of professionals with leadership skills. The focus of the doctorate in occupational therapy at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) hits this mark. In this paper, we describe the development process of a postprofessional occupational therapy doctorate focused on building leaders. To exemplify putting the Centennial Vision in action through education, we describe courses and content, and offer examples of the capstone leadership project and data describing students' experiences with becoming leaders.

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