For Autism awareness month this year, Anna (a cofacilitator of the special needs ministry) and I have been invited to speak to the church congregation a little about "autism awareness". I haven't finalized any plans for presenting but doing some research on Youtube, I came across a video that emphasizes autism acceptance much more than autism awareness. I pitched a video of autism awareness to Anna but she agreed that it was much more important to emphasize acceptance of the condition if we want to see positive change in attitudes toward those affected by autism. So, we decided that instead of showing a video of what autism is, we will create a slideshow of all the wonderful things the children in Harvest, the special needs ministry are doing to praise and learn about God.
The first and only walk I did was a virtual one during the pandemic because we could not gather. I had a shirt that said "I Walk for Dup15q because I don't run". And a virtual walk was even better because all I had to do was wear the shirt, sit on the couch and watch Netflix.
But in all seriousness, we need to go beyond just being aware of what autism is to ways in which we show acceptance to people who have the condition.
1. Autism awareness is knowing that 1 in 63 children are diagnosed and there is no known cure. Acceptance is making sure advocacy for greater research is made to understand it better which one day help minimize debilitating symptoms.
2 Awareness is knowing that disabled people, especially those with cognitive disabilities, are the most discriminated subgroup of our country, if not the world, Acceptance is making sure they have fair and appropriate access to educational opportunities, medical care and rights for access to housing, employment and the opportunity to praise and worship God at their own developmental level.
3. Awareness is knowing that words such a retard, "special", idiot, etc... are derogatory terms that is inappropriate to use for people with autism or other cognitive disabilities. Acceptance is not using them to make fun of or put them down nor use them as adjectives in everyday language. I've heard even doctors describe a difficult personality as "he's just very "special". How we treat people with cognitive disabilities may just be a test from God to see who we say we are, is aligned with who we truly are.
If it is hard or uncomfortable for you to be around someone so different, that is OK. No pressure. We all live at different levels of understanding of God's purpose for everything so just be true to yourselves and acknowledge your own comfort levels. Just don't be derogatory and mean. Every child has a mom and dad whose hearts break when they are treated with cruelty and made fun of. A simple prayer for their well-being would be much appreciated.
4. Awareness is knowing that 80% of couples with autistic children end up in divorce due to the overbearing stress of caregiving. Acceptance is showing compassion and advocating for the whole family to deal with their unique situations and lending moral support, as needed.
How do I tie autism to my understanding of a loving God and my own spiritual journey?
I've come to understand that a community who has a healthy regard for people with disabilities is one in which God's presence shines brightly. If you look at war torn countries, where killings and genocides run rampant, where there is much confusion and hate, you will not find children with disabilities flourishing, if existing at all. When the Nazi's took power in Germany, the first group of people they exterminated were not the Jews but children with special needs because they did not fit their narrative of a "master race" of perfect people. The devil must be afraid of children with cognitive disabilities to want them gotten rid of because despite all their flaws, inabilities and a dependence on so many others, these little souls help highlight all that is good in people to shine brightly. They engender feelings of compassion understanding, kindness, love and patience, qualities that dark forces want to extinguish. When God made a clarion call for souls to go to Earth to be nonverbal, be considered less than fully human, and have little to no control over their physical bodies and its functions for His divine purpose, I'm sure not many souls signed up for the task. It would be better to request becoming a doctor, musician, teacher, an actor anything but autism or intellectually delayed; but, the very rare and beautiful ones who raised their hands and said, "I'll go".. well, can you imagine what the heart of God must have felt at that?
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