Comments on: Autism and Faith: A Journey into Community http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:29:21 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Julia Ellis http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/comment-page-1/#comment-565265 Julia Ellis Sun, 31 May 2009 16:03:58 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/#comment-565265 I stumbled across this blog while reading reviews of Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult. It stung my heart, as I have been thrown out of many churches in the last few years, searching for a church where my autistic grandaughter can be welcomed. The intentions always start out good, but in the end, the teacher, the class, the church cannot handle an autistic child. My favorite was the curt call from the Sunday School director, telling me that they didn't want to expose the other children to the petit mal seizures my granddaughter has from time to time. She said it was so un God like. My husband and I have taken over care of Nicole in our late 50s, because her mother had a stroke and is quite disabled. I say, Father, forgive them...as we know the blessing and the sacrifice of giving our lives and our plans up to care for and nourish this very special needs child. I remeber every day that her angels see the face of God and I am closer to Him because of her. Yet, that yearning for a Christian community, that is so eliusive when the package comes with an autistic child, stays with me. Nicole's favorite part of the day is saying prayers in the morning with me and her grandfather. At 6 she has her own Bible with dog eared pages of her favorite passages. Most Sunday Schools would nominally yearn for such a student. I'm grateful there is a community of people that share this yearning and frustration. Perhaps something will come of this. I stumbled across this blog while reading reviews of Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult. It stung my heart, as I have been thrown out of many churches in the last few years, searching for a church where my autistic grandaughter can be welcomed. The intentions always start out good, but in the end, the teacher, the class, the church cannot handle an autistic child. My favorite was the curt call from the Sunday School director, telling me that they didn’t want to expose the other children to the petit mal seizures my granddaughter has from time to time. She said it was so un God like.

My husband and I have taken over care of Nicole in our late 50s, because her mother had a stroke and is quite disabled. I say, Father, forgive them…as we know the blessing and the sacrifice of giving our lives and our plans up to care for and nourish this very special needs child. I remeber every day that her angels see the face of God and I am closer to Him because of her.

Yet, that yearning for a Christian community, that is so eliusive when the package comes with an autistic child, stays with me. Nicole’s favorite part of the day is saying prayers in the morning with me and her grandfather. At 6 she has her own Bible with dog eared pages of her favorite passages. Most Sunday Schools would nominally yearn for such a student.

I’m grateful there is a community of people that share this yearning and frustration. Perhaps something will come of this.

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/comment-page-1/#comment-559223 Kristina Chew, PhD Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:47:07 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/#comment-559223 @Gabriel, I will check with the editors about a PDF file. Hope your grand-nephew is doing all right. Very best------ @Gabriel, I will check with the editors about a PDF file. Hope your grand-nephew is doing all right. Very best——

]]> By: Gabriel Dolan http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/comment-page-1/#comment-559084 Gabriel Dolan Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:43:28 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/#comment-559084 Hi. I have just read a review of Autism and Faith and so have been moved to search the web for more information. It seems that you can only sell the product. Mindful that I am in Kenya, am a Pastor who also has a grand-nephew with Autism is there any chance that you might send a PDF version, please, Blessings, Gabriel Hi. I have just read a review of Autism and Faith and so have been moved to search the web for more information. It seems that you can only sell the product. Mindful that I am in Kenya, am a Pastor who also has a grand-nephew with Autism is there any chance that you might send a PDF version, please,

Blessings,

Gabriel

]]> By: Excluded: Sorry, it’s not your right « What Sorts of People http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/comment-page-1/#comment-545790 Excluded: Sorry, it’s not your right « What Sorts of People Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:21:07 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/#comment-545790 [...] the parents of an autistic 13-year-old, Adam Race. In a short essay at the start of the guide Autism and Faith: A Journey Into Community entitled “Open the Door,” Linda Walder Fiddle writes: In 1993, when my son, Danny, was [...] [...] the parents of an autistic 13-year-old, Adam Race. In a short essay at the start of the guide Autism and Faith: A Journey Into Community entitled “Open the Door,” Linda Walder Fiddle writes: In 1993, when my son, Danny, was [...]

]]> By: Excluded?: On Keeping the Faith http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/comment-page-1/#comment-552467 Excluded?: On Keeping the Faith Wed, 21 May 2008 07:03:16 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/#comment-552467 [...] the parents of an autistic 13-year-old, Adam Race. In a short essay at the start of the guide Autism and Faith: A Journey Into Community entitled “Open the Door,” Linda Walder Fiddle writes: In 1993, when my son, Danny, was [...] [...] the parents of an autistic 13-year-old, Adam Race. In a short essay at the start of the guide Autism and Faith: A Journey Into Community entitled “Open the Door,” Linda Walder Fiddle writes: In 1993, when my son, Danny, was [...]

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/comment-page-1/#comment-556075 Kristina Chew, PhD Wed, 21 May 2008 02:18:52 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/#comment-556075 Hayward and Hunterdon in the same comment thread----two places I know! Hayward and Hunterdon in the same comment thread—-two places I know!

]]> By: Bonnie Sayers http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/comment-page-1/#comment-553948 Bonnie Sayers Mon, 19 May 2008 02:15:21 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/#comment-553948 On the topic of NJ, I read that Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington (Where my son was born, and where my father passed away) is getting a $350,000 grant for an autism center http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/somerset/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1210221418159820.xml&coll=1 On the topic of NJ, I read that Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington (Where my son was born, and where my father passed away) is getting a $350,000 grant for an autism center

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/somerset/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1210221418159820.xml&coll=1

]]> By: Karen http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/comment-page-1/#comment-550724 Karen Sun, 18 May 2008 18:50:18 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/#comment-550724 @mayfly Thank you for the additional information. My heart is literally swelling with happiness. From the schedule, it looks like the Hayward location is closest to us. Gosh I love the internet. :-) @mayfly
Thank you for the additional information. My heart is literally swelling with happiness. From the schedule, it looks like the Hayward location is closest to us.

Gosh I love the internet. :-)

]]> By: Laura Cottington http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/comment-page-1/#comment-553803 Laura Cottington Sun, 18 May 2008 05:13:43 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/#comment-553803 How ironic, I just got done writing a "Letter to the editor" that I want to get enough guts to submit to the Star Tribune. Then I thought, I wonder if Christina has heard about this "restraining order" and cruised over to let my writing rest for a bit...and of course you had. We are 2 hours away from Bertha and I want all four of us to drive up in the morning for church. I even mapquest'ed it, but my cooler headed hubby prevailed, as he wants to see how the church responds this week following the requests (and two hours in the car may be difficult for Sam after a tough day for little man today). BUT...I can tell you that we WILL be there next week in support of Adam and his family if nothing changes. And I may not give Sam his morning dose of Risperdal when we go! My stomach is sick, as I have just come off one site with discussion on. http://www.catholicforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24524 I may use your New Jersey resource you had in your post as a resource if that is okay. To direct all to at least a positive movement at a church here in Minnesota that is doing great work with children and special needs, please check out www.lordoflife.org. While we attend this church, we don't utilize the special needs ministry, but know many who do. It is a blessing!!! How ironic, I just got done writing a “Letter to the editor” that I want to get enough guts to submit to the Star Tribune. Then I thought, I wonder if Christina has heard about this “restraining order” and cruised over to let my writing rest for a bit…and of course you had. We are 2 hours away from Bertha and I want all four of us to drive up in the morning for church. I even mapquest’ed it, but my cooler headed hubby prevailed, as he wants to see how the church responds this week following the requests (and two hours in the car may be difficult for Sam after a tough day for little man today). BUT…I can tell you that we WILL be there next week in support of Adam and his family if nothing changes. And I may not give Sam his morning dose of Risperdal when we go! My stomach is sick, as I have just come off one site with discussion on. http://www.catholicforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24524
I may use your New Jersey resource you had in your post as a resource if that is okay. To direct all to at least a positive movement at a church here in Minnesota that is doing great work with children and special needs, please check out http://www.lordoflife.org. While we attend this church, we don’t utilize the special needs ministry, but know many who do. It is a blessing!!!

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/comment-page-1/#comment-539908 Kristina Chew, PhD Sun, 18 May 2008 03:56:45 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/autism-and-faith-a-journey-into-community/#comment-539908 @mayfly, Twin Creeks was my first school---I went K-4 there (after which we moved back to Oakland). The school was a circle of tan stucco portables when I attended---I've seen it since, very different now! @mayfly,

Twin Creeks was my first school—I went K-4 there (after which we moved back to Oakland). The school was a circle of tan stucco portables when I attended—I’ve seen it since, very different now!

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