For those of us who ask the help of saints in our daily lives, one of the first questions that comes along with an autism diagnosis/recognition is, “Who is the patron saint of autism?” As far as I know, there are no official patron saints of autism. Yet, I can attest to the help and intervention of several saints in our autistic lives. Here are some of the saints that have made themselves known to us as helpers for autistic Christians. Holy Theotokos. Sometimes it’s easy to read past important parts of scripture, like when the educated people of the time were surprised at how much Jesus knew when he had not studied in the temple or gotten the best education of his day.…
writing, autism, & theology as a mother of joy
Posts from the “spiritual formation” Category
A few months before we converted to the Greek Orthodox Church, I had a dream. In dreams, persons are houses, and this house was my own soul. I had smoothed the walls of the main rooms so that they could be written with holy icons. I watched through my own eyes and the double-vision distance that dreams give as I tried again and again to draw a holy figure on the walls with a little piece of charcoal. I prayed and worked diligently and brought my family in to see my work and rejoice with me. All that was on the walls were scribbles. The lines I had thought would show the visage of saints ready to be filled with light and color, were…
Tagged: conversion, dreams, pondering
Today is Autism Awareness Day. Many people of faith are wondering how they can welcome, engage, and serve with persons with autism. Here are 7 tips, from my faithful autistic family to yours. Keep the format and ESPECIALLY the social routine for entering the learning time/space consistent and predictable. For instance, my Sunday school class always includes the children leaving their parents at the door, walking all the way across the room to the prayer area, and having the option of placing flowers or a felt candle in the prayer area. That routine eases the anxiety of children on the spectrum, because they don’t have to wonder what to do when they get to class. They have a built-in routine to participate. Another example…
It’s been several months since my last church bag post. One of my children has started exhibiting strong sensory needs in church combined with an ability to be redirected. I made a new church bag set for her that I describe in the video below. Scroll down for free printables to make your own focus board. You can also use the free printables from my other Special Needs Resources. Cut out the images that you wish to use and arrange them on cardstock for use in directing focus. Church Focus Printables: Holy Week Focus Board 1 Holy Week Focus Board 2 Print these and cut out the ones that are part of your church tradition. Mount them using tape, glue, or laminate onto a piece of…
Over the past couple of years, I have had the joy of seeing the visual schedule I made for the Orthodox Liturgy in use. Since I made the original version with the goal of avoiding the standard visual schedule need for cutting out squares, laminating, and using velcro, it lacked the flexibility to work perfectly across local customs. Taking into account my experience and conversations, I have made a new, flexible version of the visual schedule for the Orthodox Liturgy. To use this schedule, print out the blank, numbered pages where you will attach the squares you need. You will find that the schedule works best when printed on cardstock or on paper that is laminated. If you choose to laminate, you will need…
Categories: autism, christian, concrete thinking, encouragement, faith, family, free giveaway, Orthodox Faith, special needs child, spiritual formation, Uncategorized
Tagged: AAC, accessible, adhd, american orthodoxy, ancient Christianity, antiochian orthodox, asd, attention in liturgy, autism, concrete thinking, focus, free printable, Greek Orthodox, intervention, learning disability, Make your church accessible, oca, occupational therapy, orthodox church, rocor, self regulation, trouble with transitions, visual schedule
When I first came across the term “sensory diet,” I was skeptical. How would touching my food make a difference in weight loss? I think I even rolled my eyes a little at my son’s first OT (occupational therapist), thinking she was one of those people who thought babies should diet. It’s okay to laugh. A sensory diet isn’t a weight loss program. It’s a way to describe the activities and stimuli you provide for yourself or your special needs child to help regulate and integrate your physical (and therefore emotional and cognitive) experience in the world. The professionals at THIS LINK describe it much more fully and clearly. (Bookmark that link! It’s awesome.) In your home, a sensory diet might include heavy work…
For the next 40 days, I’m posting on my Facebook page a brief word of encouragement for people living with autism (in themselves or their families). Because our God is with us, concrete thinking is not a barrier to faith. Because our God is with us, we can ask God for help. But how do we teach these truths? Like all lasting things, as simply and as concretely as possible. That’s why I’m offering these free printables for you to download and use this Advent (and hereafter) to encourage prayers. Using the simplified prayer board is easy. Print out the cards. Cut them out. Use them to pray. The raised hand is “help.” The ear is “listen” or “hear.” The two hands together are…
Categories: autism, christian, concrete thinking, encouragement, faith, free giveaway, holidays, special needs child, spiritual formation, Uncategorized
Tagged: adhd, Advent, apraxia, asd, autism, Catholic, cerebral palsy, Christian, church, Down Syndrome, free printable, how to pray, Orthodox, prayer, simple, special needs
