Autism and the Church
I recently attended the annual conference of NAEYC – the national association for the education of young children – and found some of the workshop offerings important to my ministry, while others sent me searching through the catalog for something new and inspiring. I believe that the UMC could benefit from the newest research on brain development, the changing family, and faith formation through the lenses of other denominations.
I need your thoughts on one of the topics offered more often than most – learning disabilities. How are you addressing the needs of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders? Statistics show that if you do not yet have a child in your congregation or preschool ministry with ASD, you probably will in the next few years. Children with ASD can find communication, social interaction, and sensory processing difficult; while desiring ritual and routine. Do you feel prepared?
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25.40 I, and others who read this blog, would appreciate hearing some of your stories.
Resources:
Autism and Faith: A Journey into Community http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter
March 26th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
I know this is old news; but thank you for raising the question from within the church. As a blogging parent with a 14 yr old on the autism spectrum, I appreciate your call to action for indeed, the body needs to embrace what God is doing through the increased prevalence of kids like my son who don’t easily fit into Sunday school box and yet are a vital part of the family!! Thanks for blowing the horn…(I sometimes think I’ll run out of breath:))