Special Needs Ministry

1. Special Needs Ministry Duane DeWeese

2. Agenda Item 1 Item 2 What is Autism Living with Autism: A Father’s Perspective Need for Special Needs Ministry Item 3

3. What is Autism Autism 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.

4. What is Autism Diagnosis 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

5. Prevalence of Autism

6. What is Autism Causes 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??

7. What is Autism Treatment 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

8. Living With Autism Temple Grandin

9. Living With Autism Thinking in Pictures

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. The Joys of Parenting a Child With Autism

15. 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

16. 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

17. Special Needs Ministry at MPPC What’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

18. Special Needs Ministry at MPPC What’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

19. 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

20. 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

21. Questions

22. Living With Autism Sensory 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

23. Living With Autism Sensory 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

24. Living With Autism Sensory 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