Living with Autism continued
Fortunately, the religious education teacher and leader of the congregation are not alone in having to devise methods for helping a person with any of the five types of autism adapt to the religious setting. Educators and parents often know a great deal about how to engage the person with autism. Parents and school teachers can explain the child’s learning needs and strengths and can identify trigger points that might cause distress. They can also teach the support people within the religious congregation how to use the appropriate teaching tools to facilitate realistic learning goals. Raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder is a daunting challenge to which many parents respond with remarkable grace, courage, and love. They educate themselves about the most effective teaching methods, work collaboratively with teachers and medical professionals, advocate vigorously to include their child in the community, and love their child deeply. This work has its rewards. Seeing a child who has been mute begin to speak, watching a child grapple with social challenges and become more adept interpersonally, getting a hug from their
autism, too. Perhaps it’s the young man next to you at church who calls out unexpectedly, the girl at the pool who is mesmerized by splashing water, or the boy continually opening the automatic door at the grocery store. Autism is all too common: 1 in 150 children born today will have an autism spectrum disorder. How you live with it makes a big difference.
Therese Ojibway, BCABA (Clinton’s mother)
child, celebrating all of the youngster’s achievements large and small are all very meaningful and not taken for granted in families who recognize how hard the whole family works to accomplish these goals. Many mothers and fathers report a strong sense of effectiveness as parents because they have coped well with unusually hard problems. Being recognized by one’s religious community for these accomplishments can be sustaining during hard times and a source of joyous celebration at other times.
Dr. Sandra Harris is the Executive Director of the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
“The symptoms of autism begin in early childhood and often persist into adulthood, making life very difficult for the family. They can also make inclusion in the worship practices of one’s faith community quite a challenge. However, the benefits of support for the family and the person with autism demand that a religious leader and congregation make this effort.”
11
A Journey Into Community
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