Comments on: Going to Church http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/557/going-to-church/ Support. Insight. Inspiration Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:19:54 -0400 hourly 1 By: The Friendship Station: A Special Needs Ministry http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/557/going-to-church/#comment-6654 The Friendship Station: A Special Needs Ministry Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:00:58 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=557#comment-6654 [...] Last week, I shared about some of the challenges we have had with church attendance since our son Michael was diagnosed with autism in December of 2004. Many of you shared your own stories, both uplifting and heartbreaking, in the comments, and I appreciate your openness on this difficult topic. [...] [...] Last week, I shared about some of the challenges we have had with church attendance since our son Michael was diagnosed with autism in December of 2004. Many of you shared your own stories, both uplifting and heartbreaking, in the comments, and I appreciate your openness on this difficult topic. [...]

]]> By: Steve http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/557/going-to-church/#comment-6370 Steve Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:45:08 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=557#comment-6370 I can certainly relate - here's my own story: http://hearthesiren.blogspot.com/2006/10/club-kangaroo-beginning.html But there are many, many churches (in many flavors) who provide any number of opportunities for our special needs kids. There are also many organizations to help you find one, depending on where you live - Joni and Friends, Young Life, I'm sure there are many others. Don't give up! :) I can certainly relate – here's my own story:

http://hearthesiren.blogspot.com/2006/10/club-kangaroo-beginning.html

But there are many, many churches (in many flavors) who provide any number of opportunities for our special needs kids. There are also many organizations to help you find one, depending on where you live – Joni and Friends, Young Life, I'm sure there are many others. Don't give up! :)

]]> By: Amazing_Grace http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/557/going-to-church/#comment-6213 Amazing_Grace Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:49:43 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=557#comment-6213 I posted at my blog: Special Needs Students: Information To Gather From Parents (Just click on my name and the link will take you there.) I posted at my blog:

Special Needs Students: Information To Gather From Parents

(Just click on my name and the link will take you there.)

]]> By: Trish http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/557/going-to-church/#comment-5914 Trish Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:15:36 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=557#comment-5914 Thanks for sharing so much of your stories here. I don't know how many answers I have, but maybe my story will help someone else go on from there and do even more. Thanks for sharing so much of your stories here. I don't know how many answers I have, but maybe my story will help someone else go on from there and do even more.

]]> By: Debbie Yost http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/557/going-to-church/#comment-5680 Debbie Yost Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:00:29 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=557#comment-5680 We still have Peanut in the nursery even though she's nearing 4 years old. I have to admit I've been avoiding what to do next. Finding the "right church" isn't really an option for me since I'm Catholic. However, our church has recently started programs on helping children with special needs in religion class. I just don't know if she's ready for Sunday school on top of everything else she is doing. I look forward to your next post! We still have Peanut in the nursery even though she's nearing 4 years old. I have to admit I've been avoiding what to do next. Finding the "right church" isn't really an option for me since I'm Catholic. However, our church has recently started programs on helping children with special needs in religion class. I just don't know if she's ready for Sunday school on top of everything else she is doing. I look forward to your next post!

]]> By: Danette http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/557/going-to-church/#comment-5497 Danette Sun, 02 Nov 2008 03:16:41 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=557#comment-5497 Trish - this is a great post on a much-needed topic. I feel like I almost could have written it myself. For the last 7 years, we have spent spent much of our time at church in the hallways or outside the building with our boys because they couldn't tolerate the all the people, sounds, lights, and smells (perfumes, etc.). Of course, they responded to the overstimulation by becoming even more hyperactive than usual, running and screaming and flipping lights on and off, or worse, dropping to the floor for a screaming, rolling-around meltdown. All of these behaviors are frowned-on at church even more so than other places, obviously. We tried a number of things over the years with limited success, but finally as they've gotten older our twins can tolerate church and are even starting to enjoy it. Little Bitty is less hyperactive, but he wears us out with his fixation on doors (opening and watching them close, over and over) and light switches. He is so persistent, trying to keep him away once he gets his sights on something usually leads to a meltdown but we can't very well let him turn the lights on and off during church. It's just been in the last few months that I feel like we are actually starting to at least semi-participate as a family again, I haven't felt that way since our twins were babies. There have been a lot of tears and frustration along the way, but I'm glad we stuck it out. We managed to find some other families with autistic children at church and just having someone around who "gets it" helps tremendously. I'm nervous now though, because Little Bitty will soon "graduate" from nursery and I'm not sure how he'll do when he has to go to a regular class at church. I still have to go with him to nursery most weeks for at least the first part. I guess we'll see how it goes... Trish – this is a great post on a much-needed topic. I feel like I almost could have written it myself. For the last 7 years, we have spent spent much of our time at church in the hallways or outside the building with our boys because they couldn't tolerate the all the people, sounds, lights, and smells (perfumes, etc.). Of course, they responded to the overstimulation by becoming even more hyperactive than usual, running and screaming and flipping lights on and off, or worse, dropping to the floor for a screaming, rolling-around meltdown. All of these behaviors are frowned-on at church even more so than other places, obviously. We tried a number of things over the years with limited success, but finally as they've gotten older our twins can tolerate church and are even starting to enjoy it.

Little Bitty is less hyperactive, but he wears us out with his fixation on doors (opening and watching them close, over and over) and light switches. He is so persistent, trying to keep him away once he gets his sights on something usually leads to a meltdown but we can't very well let him turn the lights on and off during church.

It's just been in the last few months that I feel like we are actually starting to at least semi-participate as a family again, I haven't felt that way since our twins were babies. There have been a lot of tears and frustration along the way, but I'm glad we stuck it out. We managed to find some other families with autistic children at church and just having someone around who "gets it" helps tremendously.

I'm nervous now though, because Little Bitty will soon "graduate" from nursery and I'm not sure how he'll do when he has to go to a regular class at church. I still have to go with him to nursery most weeks for at least the first part. I guess we'll see how it goes…

]]> By: Amazing_Grace http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/557/going-to-church/#comment-5168 Amazing_Grace Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:10:06 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=557#comment-5168 Trish- You might find using walkie-talkies to keep in touch with your son's classroom. We have some that vibrate when someone is trying to call you so you don't bother others. Our walkie-talkies clip to your belt and we even used them during a cruise. LOL! Trish-
You might find using walkie-talkies to keep in touch with your son's classroom. We have some that vibrate when someone is trying to call you so you don't bother others. Our walkie-talkies clip to your belt and we even used them during a cruise. LOL!

]]> By: gail http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/557/going-to-church/#comment-5158 gail Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:52:42 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=557#comment-5158 this topic just makes me want to cry! not becuz we are in a bad place, but becuz so many of us have given up at one time or another. and i know that is not the Father's heart. we recently moved, and trying out new churches with a son with angelman's syndrome is a nightmare. i tried to come prepared in case we needed to have him sit with us during worship. none were unwilling or awful i'm glad to say, but it wasn't until we found our church, The Pursuit in boise that we felt like we had died and gone to heaven. 2 spec needs teachers have a special classroom just for our son and the other special kiddos. we visited the first week they had it up and running. they are constantly making it better and the love and care is just overwhelming. when we walk thru the doors now our son runs, not walks (and he only runs for 2 things: swimming and pizza) to his classroom. he sits down and waves goodbye to us before we even get to the room. it is the first church i have felt i could invite a family who has special kiddos to and be able to reassure them that their kiddos will be fine. they'll be loved and cared for and ahve fun. i wish there was a church like ours in every town in the country. this topic just makes me want to cry! not becuz we are in a bad place, but becuz so many of us have given up at one time or another. and i know that is not the Father's heart.

we recently moved, and trying out new churches with a son with angelman's syndrome is a nightmare. i tried to come prepared in case we needed to have him sit with us during worship. none were unwilling or awful i'm glad to say, but it wasn't until we found our church, The Pursuit in boise that we felt like we had died and gone to heaven.

2 spec needs teachers have a special classroom just for our son and the other special kiddos. we visited the first week they had it up and running. they are constantly making it better and the love and care is just overwhelming. when we walk thru the doors now our son runs, not walks (and he only runs for 2 things: swimming and pizza) to his classroom. he sits down and waves goodbye to us before we even get to the room. it is the first church i have felt i could invite a family who has special kiddos to and be able to reassure them that their kiddos will be fine. they'll be loved and cared for and ahve fun.

i wish there was a church like ours in every town in the country.

]]> By: Amazing_Grace http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/557/going-to-church/#comment-5148 Amazing_Grace Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:34:42 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=557#comment-5148 I posted some articles at my new blog that some of you might find useful. :) http://catholicblogger1.blogspot.com/2008/10/religious-education-for-special-needs.html Religious Education For Special Needs Children http://catholicblogger1.blogspot.com/2008/10/ministering-to-people-with-special.html Ministering To People With Special Needs I posted some articles at my new blog that some of you might find useful. :)

http://catholicblogger1.blogspot.com/2008/10/religious-education-for-special-needs.html

Religious Education For Special Needs Children

http://catholicblogger1.blogspot.com/2008/10/ministering-to-people-with-special.html

Ministering To People With Special Needs

]]> By: Spring http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/557/going-to-church/#comment-5146 Spring Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:54:05 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=557#comment-5146 I have to admit that we have ceded defeat as well. We are a multiracial family, so we need diversity and tolerance for that as well as tolerance/accommodation for special needs. After a bunch of failures early on when we didn't yet know how to manage our newest daughter's mental illness (including her falling into a catatonic state in front of, well, a few hundred folks...ooops!), we've given up for now. We need time to learn how to parent her better before we try again (we've only been with our daughter for 8 months). Later, hopefully, we'll find the right place. I have to admit that we have ceded defeat as well. We are a multiracial family, so we need diversity and tolerance for that as well as tolerance/accommodation for special needs.

After a bunch of failures early on when we didn't yet know how to manage our newest daughter's mental illness (including her falling into a catatonic state in front of, well, a few hundred folks…ooops!), we've given up for now. We need time to learn how to parent her better before we try again (we've only been with our daughter for 8 months).

Later, hopefully, we'll find the right place.

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