This document discusses autism and adolescence. It begins by describing the author's experience when their son was diagnosed with autism as a toddler, including the initial shock and grief. It then discusses common social and behavioral challenges that teenagers with autism may face, such as difficulties with language, making friends, stimming behaviors, and needing rigid schedules. The document advocates for including youth with autism and their families in church communities through various models like full inclusion, reverse inclusion, or partnerships with other organizations. It provides examples of tools like iPads and visual schedules that can help support teenagers with autism.

1. AUTISM AND ADOLESCENCE
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2. Troy
Amber Jared Brett Jacob
Thursday, February 7, 13
My family -
3 teens, 1 preteen daughter

3. AUTISM
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April 2000 - life took spiraling nose dive
crazy # visits to docs, therapists, -ologists (not gynocologist)
thing called autism entered our family
lack of typical social skills
development of speech almost non-existent (18 months, no mama, dada, no words)
in a way appeared deaf
Diagnosis rocked my world
Ride home, suddenly overwhelmed with weight of my new reality
out of body exper. - saw myself seated in front of doctor - nodding - trying to hear above
the ROAR of emotions inside my head
prognosis of never and always
months went by - better understanding of what doc had been saying
crushed - dreams for my son stolen
not something that was going to go away - lifelong diagnosis - 24 hours a day, everyday
year - one of lowest and darkest in my life
found myself experiencing days - felt literally drowning
barely catching breath from yesterday, only to face another day
Something I didn’t anticipate - but came to learn - increasingly difficult for our family to fit in
anywhere - belong to any type of community
playgrounds, bday parties, school - didn’t fit in
new reality - church became a luxury
nothing else in life was like I thought - but surely God and His people would still be there
For a while this is what my Sunday would look like -
Get up and struggle to get Jared (and everyone else ready) little longer with child with
disability
but we do it - go to church - drop off my child
15 min later asked to come and get him - can’t handle him, don’t have training for that, can
take him with you, maybe there is another church
As a child of a children’s pastor - grew up in church - been a Jesus follower for many, many

4. DID YOU KNOW....
1 in 5 people in the U.S. have a disability
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20%
45 million people
Everyone of those people come with a family
Estimate that 95% of people with disabilities are unchurched

5. IN FAMILIES AFFECTED BY
DISABILITIES
High divorce rate
Extra financial stress
Sibling issues
Networking is essential
Child-sitters are a life-saver
Nightmare = Who will take care of / love my child if
something happens to me?
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1 - maybe as high as 85%
lots of single parents
2 - not covered by insurance
3 - difficult time adjust / belonging
4 - in order to feel you are not alone
Does God / Scripture address this at all?

6. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus for all
of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself
with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free,
male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
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In Galatians 3 - Paul says
Paul saying - no one is left out of the Gospel
Racial, economic, gender barriers and ALL other inequalities SHOULD NOT exist in the
kingdom J came to usher in
Central part of Good news
What about Jesus?

7. Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon
or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or
sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do,
they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But
when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled,
the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although
they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the
resurrection of the righteous.”
Luke 14:12
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Luke 14:12
A reading of the gospel accounts of J, puts center stage - ordinary people, poor people,
disreputable people, and disabled people
Never to embarrass or shame - never as a spectacle. Compassionate - not condescending
Religious people were bothered that J spent time with “those” people
J over and over again chooses to spend time with those that religion shuns

8. When you give a party......
= Kingdom of God
What is it that keeps our churches / youth ministries from
looking like the Kingdom that Jesus came to usher in?
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What would our churches / our youth ministries look like if we took these words of Jesus
literally?
What is keeping our youth ministries from looking like the Kingdom Jesus came to usher in?

9. AUTISM
A brain disorder that affects a person’s ability to:
communicate,
reason,
interact with others.
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10. Thursday, February 7, 13
A is a spectrum disorder - that affects individuals differently.
The characteristics of autism can present themselves in a wide variety of combos
from mild to severe - very different
includes autism, asperger’s, childhood disintegrative disorder, rett’s disorder, pdd (pdd-nos)
Met one person with autism - you met one person with autism

11. AUTISM
Affects 1 in 88 people in the US
Affects 1 in 54 boys in the US
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According to the latest numbers from the CDC
Fastest growing developmental (present at birth) disability
4 to 5 times more common in boys

12. AUTISM
1/3 of children with autism develop seizures by adolescence
Only 56% of students with autism complete high school
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13. AUTISM
Autism knows NO racial, ethnic or social boundaries. Family
income, lifestyle and educational levels do not affect the
chance of autism’s occurrence. The incidence of autism is
consistent around the globe.
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14. AUTISM
There is NO CURE for autism.
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15. COMMON TEENAGE
CHARACTERISTICS OF AUTISM
Language Difficulty
Having little or no friends
“Stimming”
Behavior struggles
Need for a Rigid Schedule
Preoccupation with one topic
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Language spectrum -
some never speak, noises, sign language, communication device, ipad apps, pix symbols,
speech)
voice volume, rhythm, intonation may be different
not able to read “in head”
may be “overly honest” in what they say (Jack music) - bad breath, ugly sweater - no filter
very concrete language
2 responses (isolation or plow right in the middle)
because analyzing person’s face and body language is difficult - causes friendship problems
- can’t read common social cues - space issues
difficulty with eye contact - may appear to be ignoring when you talk to them
describes repetitive behaviors that teens with autism will do to soothe themselves -
see in stressful situations to CALM
rocking, tapping table of objects, rubbing an object -- sense of control
important to recognize - hitting table may indicate stress not trying to be obnoxious
Teens going through lots of changes and range of emotions - most teens have difficulty
managing these
Get overstimulated - over excited - over anxious may act out
cry, scream, hit, laugh uncontrollably - teen equivalent to temper tantrum (I’m tired don’t
know how to express) I’m stressed out and don’t know how to express
many can’t communicate emotions like anger, frustration, hurt in socially acceptable ways -
so end up expressing themselves in socially inappropriate ways
If seems directed at you - don’t take it personal
World that doesn’t function like they do - chaos - looking for control
Like to do things exactly the same way at the same time each day
Will not / can not make spontaneous decisions regarding their schedule
uncomfortable with sudden changes
Changes to routine and schedule source of stress that could lead to acting out
often amazed by one particular subject

16. HOW DOES IT LOOK?
1. Full Inclusion
2. Reverse Inclusion
3. Self - Contained
4. Para-church organizations (i.e. Young Life Capernaum)
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1 - completely integrated in whatever there is for their age group, may have support
2 - separate space, bring those with disabilities (neurotypical) in to space with them, may
have support
3 - self-contained = only those with disabilities and leader/support
4 - para church = YL Capernaum
Can have variety
Do need more volunteers to help support (pull different source)
AND great way for teens to serve others - go beyond consumerism and gain so much more

17. HELPFUL TOOLS
1. iPad / iPod
2. Clipboard
3. Fidget Toys
4. Visual Schedules
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So many apps
ipad bibles, all types of special needs apps
talk about ipad accessibility
Show clipboard, fidget toys and visual schedule examples

18. look birds air they
at the of the
do not sow reap store away
or or
in barns your heavenly father feeds
yet
them Are you not much more valuable
than
they
Matthew 6:26
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Visual representation of bible verse

19. OPEN UP THE
PARTY
Outreach to special needs community
- homes
- schools
- residential facilities
- public places
- mentorships
- partnerships (disability organizations, churches)
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Word of mouth that your church cares
GO
1. offer support there
2. volunteer, donate supplies
3. volunteer, host fun activities (dance, easter egg hunt)
4. support groups (local coffee shop)
5. assist in attending school meetings, health services, state systems, court guardianship
meetings
6. autism society, support groups

20. OPEN UP
HOPE
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Asked you - have you ever imagined what it would be like to be asked to leave a church
because of your child?
Now ask you....
Imagine finding a place of faith that welcomes your teen and YOU - place where someone
says we hope he/she comes back
A place full of HOPE
Imagine the lifes you can affect
Imagine how your life can be affected

21. Q&A
Contact Info:
Tammy Burns
Pastor of Family Ministries
The Ridge Faith Community
tammy@theridgeonline.cc
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