Your expertise needed to compile a manual for church volunteers - on autism.

[Guest guest]

The LDS church has a manual- a section of a manual .

go to http://www.lds.org

Guppy probably has tons of ideas.

--- Dianne wrote:

> I know a mom here in Round Rock who is extremely

> active in her large

> church doing exactly what you describe. Her son is

> 12 and Autistic so

> she could help you with some tips, but I will post

> for her.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

OOPS! I rec' too much mail!

This is what we do:

We have 3 sections in 3 hours

1) Sacrament: Families for 1 hour

(there are too many babies to attend)

AFTER Sacrament

We have a " no Cry Zone " a section of the hall where

crying babies/children are not allowed.

My daughter has a one on one because she just

transitioned from Primary to YM- she turned 12 the end

of March. It also helps incase someone unknowingly

brings a baby into the YW area.

We have also used ear phones and a mini DVD player to

settle things in a room they have set aside for her

only.

2) Sunday schools: We wait until (2-5 minutes) this

has started so that the hall is clear (just in case)of

crying babies and then take my daughter to class for

YW/YM

* Nursery 18 mos to 3 yr

* Primary 3yr to 12 yr

* Young women/Young men 12 to 18

* Adult Sunday School

* New members class

3) other classes

* The YW/YM group spilt acording to gender and

have another class, so we wait a few minutes to make

sure there is no crying and then transition into the

chapel where the Young Women meet for their meeting.

What I did was I met with all the leaders & Teachers

of the auxiliaries in one group- they have a meeting

every Sunday morning an hour and half before church

starts and I spoke to them about how things work for

Renie and the supports and accomodations they need to

be made.

I also spoke to the youth prior to her coming into the

Young Women/Young Men's program about respect and

disbilities. I gave everyone a People First Language

Sheet and we went over it. I explained her barriers

and the importance of loving and treating Renie with

respect. The kids were great!

So the 3 things for us are: 1) informing the leaders

and teachers in one meeting, 2) creating a no cry zone

and announcing it from the pulpit and with signs 3)One

on one to help with the transition.

Renie loves me dearly, but she prefers to be more

independent, however because crying and whining are

such huge barriers for her, an one on one aide is

best. She prefers a one- on-one at church and school

to me.

Candis

--- Candis Firchau wrote:

> The LDS church has a manual- a section of a manual .

>

> go to http://www.lds.org

> Guppy probably has tons of ideas.

>

>

> --- Dianne wrote:

>

> > I know a mom here in Round Rock who is extremely

> > active in her large

> > church doing exactly what you describe. Her son

> is

> > 12 and Autistic so

> > she could help you with some tips, but I will post

> > for her.

> >

> >

> >

>

>