Special Needs MinistryDuane DeWeese

Agenda

What is Autism

Living with Autism: A Father’s Perspective

Item 1

Need for Special Needs Ministry

Item 2

Item 3

What is AutismAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders, characterized by • social impairments, • communication difficulties, • and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior.

Every person with autism is unique.• Completely Non-verbal to Brilliant Scientist

A Broad Spectrum of Pervasive Development Disorders• Asperger’s Syndrome (High Functioning Autism)• Classic Autism (moderate to severe)• Pervasive Development Disorder/Not Otherwise Specified

Two Types of Autism• Classic Autism – symptoms since birth• Regressive – Follows typical development, language regresses starting at

age 2 or 3.

What is AutismDiagnosis

Autism Diagnosis is completely subjective• No lab test or brain scan that can definitively diagnose autism• Diagnosis made based on the DSM –IV manual• Can take a year to get diagnosis – long waiting lists for

diagnosis and early intervention services

Doctors or Psychiatrists can make a diagnosis• Insurance, Schools, or Medicaid will not accept a Doctors

diagnosis

Early Diagnosis Important• 50% of Children Diagnosed with Autism by age 3 and get early

intervention services are mainstreamed in school by 1st grade

Prevalence of Autism

What is AutismCauses

• No one knows • Research suggests the following

• Genetic Susceptibility• Exposure to an environmental toxic agent• When exposure to toxic agent occurs, may

have no effect in one stage of development, but bad effects at another stage

• Vaccines??

What is AutismTreatment• Therapies

• Applied Behavior Analysis• Speech• Music Therapy• Occupational Therapy – Fine Motor Skills• Physical Therapy – Gross Motor Skills• Feeding Therapy

• Diet• Gluten/Casein Free• Food Allergies

• Medication• ADHD• Supplements

Living With AutismTemple Grandin

Living With AutismThinking in Pictures

Living with Autism• Communication – Why is my child crying?• Sensory processing problems

• Behavior problems often have a sensory issue as the root cause• Sensory sensitivities are variable, among individuals and within the same individual• Auditory, visual, touch, smell, taste

• School • Make you feel like your child is a burden• Charleston Autism Academy

• Potty• Public restrooms are very stressful

• Sleepless• Managing Therapy and Doctors• Stress on marriage• No way to anticipate what a child with autism will do in any given situation• Dentist, haircut• Stressful vacations

Challenges Parents Face Every Day

Living With Autism - A Father’s Perspective

• Denial, Denial, Denial• Lost the child of my dreams• Hard time connecting with Steven• Depression, bitter• loneliness• Guilt• Stress, Stress, Stress

Living With Autism - A Father’s Perspective“You have found favor from God, because he has given you this special-needs child so you can experience sacrificial love.”Chuck Colson

The Joys of Parenting a Child With Autism• Kids with autism will make you laugh• Kids with autism make the best friends – they do

not judge.• You become less judgmental• You never take a small victory for granted• You will find friends in the Special Needs

Community who are like family – Special bond• You will find your power• Just as with any child, kids with autism will give you

so much love• You get to watch your child play adapted sports

• Charleston Miracle League• Surfer’s Healing

The Joys of Parenting a Child With Autism

Why a Special Needs Ministry at MPPC• About 90% of special-needs families are

unchurched.*• Main reason – lack of Acceptance

* http://www.scautism.org/AllAreWelcome/AllAreWelcomeScript.pdf

Why a Special Needs Ministry at MPPC

• Not feeling comfortable leaving your child in Sunday school• Inconsistent Teachers in Sunday School

• Found Steven wandering the halls• Lauren and I had to take turns staying in Sunday school with Steven• Had ABA Therapist stay with Steven in Sunday School

• Accommodations for Special Needs children for church activities, i.e. Vacation Bible School

• Potty• Using Potty as an escape mechanism• screaming “I potty” in the middle of a sermon

• Not many special needs families at Church• Disconnect with “normal” families

Challenges We Have Faced at Church

Special Needs Ministry at MPPCWhat’s been Done• Created Special Needs Ministry team• Consistent teachers for Sunday School• Created Parent Questionnaire and posted on MPPC website• A “shadow” or buddy (Volunteer) was provided for special

needs children during vacation bible school and during Sunday School

• Provided accommodations for special needs children for a parents night out

Special Needs Ministry at MPPCWhat’s Left to Do• Continue to provide a safe environment for every child as they

learn about God and his love.• Develop a sustainable model for children of all disabilities• Hire Special needs Sunday School Teacher

• Help Sunday school teachers include special needs children in a typical class• Work with parents • Special Classroom for those can’t participate in a regular Sunday school class

• Use the buddy system whenever possible. Buddies are volunteers that can be peers, older high school kids, or adults.

• Support for Parents• Provide Special Accommodations for all church events

Special Needs Ministry at Other Churches• Seacoast

• Won by One• LUKE 14 Banquet

• East Cooper Baptist Church• First Baptist Church of Mt. Pleasant

• Special Friends Ministry

• Unity Baptist Church• Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Sullivan’s Island

How the Men of the Church Can Help• Talk to your children• If you know of any families with Special needs at MPPC, please

let us know• Reach out to Special Needs Families, members or non-members• Volunteer to be a buddy and help special needs children• Continue projects to help families, i.e building a ramp• Be more accepting of Children’s “odd behavior”• Help with Charleston Miracle League in Mt. Pleasant.

• Looking to build at the Carolina Park Rec Facility• Will need Corporate sponsors • Will need volunteers for the athletic events

Questions

Living With AutismSensory Processing Problems

• Sensory problems are the primary challenge of people with autism• Behavior problems often have a sensory issue as the root cause• Sensory sensitivities are variable, among individuals and within the

same individual• Sensory Overload can cause either vision or hearing to shut down

completely, no information gets through to the brain • Some are not able to see and hear at the same time.• Stemming helps calm down with sensory overload

Living With AutismSensory Processing Problems - Auditory

• Children with autism may appear to be Deaf• Can’t screen out background noise, may not understand

speech in a noisy place• Eye contact can interfere with hearing• Some only hear vowels and no consonents• What may be minor noises to most can be very painful to a

person with autism• Public restrooms can be difficult to tolerate• Vaccums• People with auditory sensory problems need visual supports

Living With AutismSensory Processing Problems - Visual

• Brain is unable to process visual information• Difficulty with Fluorescent lights• Household lighting flickers 60 times per second, some are able

to see the flickers• Face recognition is difficult • See better looking from the side, not straight ahead