Special Needs and making sacraments

My twins are making their first communion next year. I’m starting to think about my LO and how the hell he will do this? He’s not in kindergarten yet so I have time and when it gets closer I will speak to the religious director. But just curious what others have done?

He has ASD and will most likely be in a 6:1:1 class next year (we have our Turning 5 meeting next week). There is no way (at this point anyway), he would sit through religious instruction and follow directions, etc. DH and I are not super religious but it is important to us that our children make their sacraments (they were all baptized, we were married in church). We have only brought our LO a couple times to church and had to use the phone so he could watch his videos so he would even sit (I put the volume super low). Even with that, he gets so happy and excited he makes loud screeching noises (bc he is happy) so we often get stares (at that and I’m sure for even using the phone-but it is the only way he will even sit). I have learned to brush off the looks, but DH hates this and gets embarrassed and the main reason my LO stays home with him while I will go to church with my twins (not often but once in awhile).

Special Needs and making sacraments

Check with your church. They may have a class specifically for children with special needs. When my brother (who is 28 now and has ASD) was making his sacraments this is the class he was in.

We wound up switching from the Catholic church to a nondenominational church (with a fantastic children's program and accommodations for children with special needs) , so I don't have any current experience.

Re: Special Needs and making sacraments

Look into churches that have a special needs class. I went to a different church, because mine did not offer one. I am so happy with the person who runs it.

Re: Special Needs and making sacraments

Some churches have special needs classes. I do share your concern though. I am leaning toward not enrolling my son in classes because I honestly don't think he will understand the concept of what the eucharist is. He will not be able to share confession or anything like that.

Re: Special Needs and making sacraments

Special Needs and making sacraments

Some churches allow only the year of 1st grade instruction to be taught at home. For classroom instruction, you can have an aid (that you provide yourself) or you can sit in the class with him. These are just options I have heard are permitted at some churches.

Re: Special Needs and making sacraments

Check with your church's religious ed program director, many now offer spec needs classes
Also remember that your dc can make huge leaps and bounds between now and then. My dc made a tremendous (also asd) amount of progress in kindergarten and has been able to go into the regular religion classes with an aide.

Re: Special Needs and making sacraments

So a letter to sign my son up for religious ed just came in the mail.... I called up and asked how their special needs classes were run and they told me to go to the open house... I will see but unless they can provide a lot of support looks like it may not happen....