Including Children with Autism

"Really? You want to spend your Sunday mornings with my child so that I can sit in worship?” Melissa Jantz recounts her amazement at Michelle Shelly’s surprising offer a few years ago. Michelle, a member of Assembly Mennonite Church had offered to organize care for three-year-old Ethan, who has autism, so that Melissa and her husband Tim could participate in worship at the Goshen, Indiana , congregation.

Three years later, Tim and Melissa express appreciation that members of the congregation responded to their need even before they could articulate it themselves. The support team committed themselves to a rotating schedule of support for Ethan.  Now, instead of spending their Sunday mornings running after Ethan, Tim and Melissa have the opportunity to worship without distraction.

This was not the first time the congregation had thought about how to make a more welcoming place for Ethan. Assembly’s worship often includes applause, yet Ethan’s sensitivity to unexpected loud sounds meant that congregational clapping caused him noticeable distress. After observing how much the abrupt sound bothered Ethan, one member proposed an alternative to clapping—visual applause (fluttering hands overhead, common among Deaf communities). Although Ethan’s sensitivity to clapping has faded, many in the congregation continue to prefer the hand-waving variety.

As Ethan has grown older, the congregation has looked for additional ways to support Ethan and his family. Keeping routines the same is comforting to Ethan, as it is to most people on the autism spectrum. Therefore, pastor Heidi Siemens-Rhodes has worked with the various teachers of Ethan’s Sunday school class so that they can provide him with consistency no matter who is teaching. The entire pastoral team has made an effort to learn about autism, through reading and meeting with an autism consultant from the public school district.

Heidi has taken steps to share information in the wider congregation about Ethan in order to build understanding. Following a model suggested by Barbara Newman in Autism and Your Church, she prepared a flyer introducing Ethan, with a photograph, descriptions of his strengths and challenges, and suggestions for positive ways to interact with him. The flyer names Ethan’s support team and describes some of the things he likes to do on Sunday mornings. It also offers members a framework for understanding behavior differences, with concrete examples.  All of these efforts have made Assembly a place where Ethan feels safe and where he enjoys going.

Recently, Assembly dedicated a Sunday morning to focus on the diverse gifts of people with disabilities. Kim Kurtz, a special education teacher in the congregation, planned and led worship. Christine Guth, Program Associate with ADNet, was a guest preacher. Her sermon focused on the indispensable contribution to the body of Christ brought by those members who seem weaker (1 Cor 12:22). A school autism consultant led a conversation during the adult education hour about children on the autism spectrum and accommodations that can help them participate with others.

Ironically, the Sunday event came just one week after the Jantzes had announced to the congregation that they are planning to move to Lancaster, Pennsylvania . Although feeling a little guilty, Melissa commented afterward, “This was not just about us, though. It was a great Sunday.,” she continued. Tim also expressed appreciation for Christine’s message which included an honest acknowledgement of the difficulties faced by parents when they try to bring children with behavior differences into a worship service.

Although they knew the Jantzes would be moving away in the summer, Assembly leadership continued with plans for the special Sunday, knowing that the community’s efforts to understand Ethan have prepared them to welcome other children with disabilities. The congregation is already anticipating the arrival of another child with a disability, who will be coming soon from Ethiopia when his family completes adoption procedures.

For the Jantz family, the move to Lancaster was precipitated by the desire to be nearer to a family support system and the pressing need to obtain more specialized services for Ethan which they anticipate receiving from Philhaven, a Mennonite-affiliated behavioral healthcare organization.

The anticipated relocation brings with it ambivalence. Melissa expressed regret at the hard choice to leave behind their community of faith in order to obtain services for Ethan. “Forming a team to support us, helping us to communicate to the congregation, offering flexibility to accommodate how we do things—it’s hard to let all that go,” she added. Tim also expressed appreciation, noting that “Assembly has done as much as they can do.”

A longer version of this article can be found online at www.adnetonline.org/GotoConnect.  Links are also included to the Autism and Your Church book noted above as well as other resources on autism.  Both Christine Guth and Paul Leichty are available for additional speaking assignments and workshops.