Parents’ Perspectives on the Participation of Their Children with Autism in Sunday School

Abstract

Children with autism are increasingly being identified in society today. With the increased incidence, churches will be called upon to develop programs that will allow for participation of these individuals. This article presents findings from a descriptive study addressing the participation of children with autism spectrum disorder within religious education activities. Mothers attending four churches shared their perspectives on the involvement of their seven children with autism in Sunday school programs. This article discusses common themes regarding church participation, with recommendations for improving the religious and social integration of children with disabilities within religious education programs.

Participation of Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review

“…For example, parents felt hesitant about placing their children in uncontrolled situations due to their behaviors and their children therefore no longer attended church. Instead, they received respite care during services due to their disruptive behaviors during Sunday school (Howel and Pierson 2010). Finally, the effect of motor function was also evident.…”

“…Parents reported that members of their church did not understand autism and sometimes did not support their children in attending church (Howel and Pierson 2010). Results of a qualitative study revealed that vulnerability and exposure to bullying were barriers for children with ASD to access organized leisure activities (Thompson and Emira 2011).…”

“…Mental function was another factor among adolescents with ASD that had an impact on participation whereby lower functional cognitive skills were significantly associated with higher likelihood of friends never calling, never being invited to activities, and no extracurricular activities comparing to peers with learning disabilities, intellectual disability, and speech/ language impairments (Shattuck et al 2011). Finally, behavioral issues (e.g., stereotyped and repetitive behaviors) exhibited by some children with ASD served as a barrier for participation (Howel and Pierson 2010). For example, parents felt hesitant about placing their children in uncontrolled situations due to their behaviors and their children therefore no longer attended church.…”

“…Lack of support was cited as a barrier for participation in some studies. Parents did not have time; they did not let children go outdoors (Obrusnikova and Miccinello 2012;Obrusnikova and Cavalier 2011;Howel and Pierson 2010) or engage in activities without their supervision (Thompson and Emira 2011). The lack of a peer partner for leisure pursuits was found to limit participation in physical activities (Obrusnikova and Miccinello 2012;Obrusnikova and Cavalier 2011).…”

“…A study found that half of children with ASD had no friends at all (Solish et al 2010), and they were more likely never to see friends, never to get called by friends, and never to be invited to activities (Shattuck et al 2011). Parents reported that their children had no friends at church and no play dates or phone conversations occurred outside of the Sunday school environment (Howel and Pierson 2010). Parents also noted that their children had difficulty taking turns, initiating social interaction with peers, expressing their thoughts, or comprehending rules or regulations (Obrusnikova and Miccinello 2012).…”