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Meeting the Spiritual Needs of Families with Children with Special Needs
Think of three dimensions: body, mind and spirit. Individuals and families have needs in all three areas. This department will address some of the spiritual topics that arise for families.
Faith is an important foundation for many families. Traditional faith based family activities may become a problem when the family has a young child or an older family member with autism or other special needs. The parents and the church may not understand how to meet the unique needs of that individual to include him or her in the church body. Because of that, many families struggle.
Some families stop attending church activities. Some split the family for partial attendance. In these options, they can miss the ministry of the church for their family.
Many churches would be willing to help. They want to support these families, however, they are not sure what to do. The information in this department shares how some families and churches have worked together and succeeded in including these individuals and providing for their special needs.
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Caity meets the Holy Water Font
Marianne Bryant
Caity and I had been going to church together for years. Her Dad isn't a churchgoer and her older brother and sister are rather "sporadic" in their church attendance to say the least. Older sister, who is of another faith, is very involved with her family in her church. I had always felt that there was a place for Caity in a church somewhere and that she would be understood. The problem was her interpretation . . . keep reading
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Autism and Faith: A Reference Guide
Autism and Faith grew out of the efforts and concerns of families and congregations who were looking for ways to include children and adults with autism in faith communities. With articles by family members, theologians, pastors, rabbis, people with autism, and professionals, the booklet contains facts about autism, pastoral care, religious education, strategies for supporting families, tips for lay people, and a listing of religious and public resources. The articles are highlighted by real life stories from a number of families who responded to an autism and faith survey. . . . keep reading
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Everyone Belongs
Anne Maters
EP recognizes that faith, religion, and spirituality can be as important a consideration and as integral a facet in the lives of exceptional families as healthcare, education, and the myriad of other topics that touch and involve EP readers. This article presents installment seven in this multi-part series and looks at several programs in the Catholic faith. . . . keep reading
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How to Incorporate Autism and Faith at Home
Anne Masters
Faith at Home Sharing Our Faith with Our Children - Some Possibilities Ritual is comforting for people of all ages, and in particular for people with developmental disabilities. The most productive rituals are those in which everyone can participate in their own way. Do you practice rituals of the Catholic faith in your home? (I ask this also knowing that there are some days, that at the end of the day, you look back and wonder how everyone survived!) Some people wonder about how to explain God to a child who thinks only in concrete terms. However, all children are concrete thinkers. Maybe your son or daughter will always be so, but still share your sense of wonder and awe at God's activity in your life, in good and bad times. Develop a picture library of associations you have about God, such as parts of creation, expressions of love, comfort and support. . . . keep reading
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Autism Sunday: International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome
Autism Sunday - the International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome falls on the SECOND SUNDAY in February every year. 2009 AUTISM SUNDAY and the INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAY FOR AUTISM & ASPERGER'S SYNDROME falls on Sunday 8th February 2009. Churches of all denominations around the world remember people with autism and Asperger's Syndrome in prayer. . . . keep reading
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