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…
writing, autism, & theology as a mother of joy
Posts tagged “orthodox church”
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
If you have a concrete thinker or a child with complex communication needs, the thought of studying the Bible in a meaningful way might seem like out of reach. This board will help. You’ve seen the visual schedules for church services, which come from the world of occupational therapy. This Core Vocabulary board is one of the interventions from the world of speech therapy that is proven to work. It builds understanding and use of language when adults model language while pointing to the pictures on the page and in the add-on page sections. Over time, even kids who cannot talk will gain a better ability to understand language and even to communicate using this method. Here’s a tour of the board: Like any…
Categories: autism, christian, concrete thinking, curriculum, encouragement, faith, family, free giveaway, homeschool, Orthodox Faith, special needs child, spiritual formation, teacher and writer, Uncategorized, vintage faith
Tagged: AAC, asd, Asperger's, autism, Baptist, Bible, Bible church, Bible for autism, Bible study, ccn, church, complex communication needs, core vocabulary, curriculum, Down Syndrome, Episcopal, Gospels, I speak autism, Jesus, lesson, Lutheran, Methodist, Non-denominational, orthodox church, parables, Pentecostal, Roman Catholic, sensory needs, sensory processing disorder, special needs, speech therapy, Sunday School, teen group, youth group
Interview with My Family’s Favorite Easter Book Author Charlotte Riggle
Summer Kinard
Posted on April 9, 2017
It’s Holy Week! My children eagerly gathered around us tonight as we read them Catherine’s Pascha for the first couple of times this season. Among its other distinctions, Catherine’s Pascha was a finalist in the 2015 USA Book Awards, and it’s my family’s favorite Easter book. (Click on the title of the book anywhere in this post to visit the Amazon page. There’s still time to order copies!) I had the honor of talking with Charlotte Riggle, the author of Catherine’s Pascha, about some of the unique joys of the book and of Easter books and Pascha for children. Your book, Catherine’s Pascha, is brilliant for children with special needs for so many reasons. First of all, I think the picture within a picture format…
Categories: book review, christian, clean reads, diverse books, faith, family, interview, Orthodox Faith, Uncategorized
First, let’s clear up a misconception. Therapeutic service dogs are specially trained service animals prescribed by a doctor to help a person with a physical or developmental disability function in daily life. They are NOT the same as family pets, which do not have a place in Orthodox Church services. Therapeutic service dogs should be thought of along the same lines that one would think of any prescription from a doctor. If you wouldn’t require someone to stop taking their heart medication in order to come to church, you shouldn’t ask a family to leave a therapeutic service dog at home. Watch this video that shows how service dogs help children with special needs attend church services. If you see a service dog in church, how…
Categories: christian, faith, Orthodox Faith, special needs child, spiritual formation, Uncategorized
Tagged: autism, Divine Liturgy, orthodox church, service dogs, special needs, therapy dogs, tips
