Rabbi Jennifer Clayman, Temple Emanu-El, Westfield, NJ “We believe that every Jew has a right to a Jewish education in the least restrictive environment,” Rabbi Clayman added. “This effort will not just enhance the learning experience of students with special needs, but their whole synagogue experience as well.”
While parents have valuable insight into their child(ren)’s needs, they should not be expected to be the solution. Be sensitive to the parents’ need for support, affirmation, and spiritual growth as well as their children. Do not expect them to design and run the program. There are always exceptions. Some parents may take on a lead role, but do not require it. There may, in fact, be other places in the faith community where they would like to participate or their gifts could be shared. When parishes are not welcoming, it is usually not from a lack of desire, but from a lack of understanding or knowing what to do. Good information can empower effective caring and action, leading to quick results. Religious educators in particular have a unique opportunity to embrace a family and model effective inclusion for the whole community.
The more challenging situations are those in which hearts and minds are closed to what we are called to be as children of God. Information alone is not enough. To open hearts and minds, we must remember the theological foundations of our calling as created in the image of God. We must be willing to recognize new possibilities for celebrating God in our world, the gifts that God has given to each person, and the ways that the whole community can benefit from being open to including and receiving gifts that might come in unexpected and atypical packages.
Anne Masters, M.A., is Director, Pastoral Ministry with Persons with Disabilities of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.
Anonymous How could we work with our church to develop a way for our family to be in worship…to grow in our faith…while living with the realities of autism in our daily lives? The first commitment/covenant we made, as a church and family together, was that we would come to worship on Sunday mornings…and we each made preparations in order for that to happen. As Jason’s mother, I spent time each day during the week preparing him for our Sunday morning trip to church. I wrote social stories for him outlining every aspect of worship/Christian education for that week. The church was faithful in letting me know of any changes to the morning that would affect Jason’s need for routine. (Communion Sunday, a special luncheon, a visit from our clown ministry.) Together, Jason and I made a “Jason Goes to Church” book, which contained pictures of meaningful areas in our worship center and the people he would encounter there, including a picture of Jason dressed in his “Sunday” clothes (one particular outfit that was comfortable enough for him to wear with his sensory sensitivities). And we would read that book together every day, in preparation for going to church. The church also made preparations for our coming. The religious education department brainstormed ways to present consistent, predictable lessons in a very concrete manner to Jason. They cued into his love of light switches and helped him to learn that Christ was the light of the world. They understood Jason’s need for a predictable routine so they tuned into tradition, presenting the Bible stories in a way that showed their continuity through the ages, from the Bible times to today. Jason learned that he could depend on those Bible stories…and ultimately learned that he could depend on the God who was faithful in each of those stories. By this time the church was more aware of our family’s needs (for Jason’s siblings to have time with friends their own ages in their classrooms, for my husband and me to worship or study together, or even to sing in the choir together). So the education department made sure that there was someone present in Jason’s classroom when we arrived at church who would then take him under their wings for the next hour or so. That was such a gift to us… Those persons grew to know and love Jason in deep and meaningful ways, and we still maintain contact across the miles today. They became his advocate…his cheerleader…and most of all they demonstrated to Jason what it means to live in Christian community.
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Autism and Faith
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