There were 2 comments on the October 9th post, Orthodox Christian dvd on autism and worship.
The first: “what about autistic adults?”
The second: “While I think this is wonderful, [the dvd] what is EVEN MORE needed is advocacy for the MANY MANY adults with autism in the Orthodox Church. Children with autism grow up to be adults with autism, it does not somehow magically vanish at age 18. As an Orthodox autistic at age 53 I have had some HORRIBLE experiences in parishes across the United States, some real mistreatment. I hope and pray that this changes.”
This Orthodox Christian autistic man is sharing a very disturbing message with the American Orthodox Christian community. Now while the Orthodox Church is the “fullness of the faith,” the vast majority of us are beginners in the journey to appropriate this fullness, and we often fall into sin. But we are called to repentance from our sins, from unloving behavior such as this man describes.
I will tell you a personal story. Many years ago I was involved in what was known as “the Jesus Movement;” unfortunately the group I joined was a dysfunctional one; we were strict and harsh with one another, and pushy and selective in our efforts to win converts; we sought young people. One evening, on the streets of Manhattan, I initiated a conversation with a man walking beside me, seeking to evangelize him. He turned to face me, and I saw that his face was unusually large, and distinctly displeasing to my eye; he was also older. He responded to me, seeking to engage me in conversation, but I responded with a short Christian platitude and ended the conversation.
I felt guilty for what I had done to this man; and I still feel shame over my unkind response. I imagine that many people this man had encountered in his life would have done something similar to what I had done. But this man would remember my response in conjunction with empty Christian words.
The Good Samaritan, who belonged to a group hated by the Jewish people of Jesus’ day, proved to be a neighbor to the Jewish man who had been robbed and beaten and left lying along the road half dead. He did not allow the prevalent religious animosities between his people and the Jews to dictate his response to the victim he found along the road. Instead, he fulfilled completely the law of love in his provisions to the man, despite their differences.
People with autism in the Church will not relate to us in coffee hour in the same was as a fellow neurotypical person will. And they may do things during Divine Liturgy that we may not think are appropriate. Nevertheless, they are our brethren; and as we are called to love our brethren, our neighbors, and even our enemies, we are certainly called to make every effort to try to understand the situation of our autistic brethren and visitors, and be there for them to the best of our abilities, to resist the temptation to criticize and condemn the differences they manifest, that they may feel welcomed and loved.
There is a prevalent misconception in the general culture that autism is childhood condition, something one can grow out of; we are more tolerant of autistic children than of autistic adults. Many of the government support programs for them end when they become adults. According to a September 5, 2015 New York Times article (which can be accessed below) 90% of autistic adults are unemployed or underemployed. This factual article is also a personal story; the life of an autistic man, Joshua is inter-weaved with the facts presented.
While reading the article, reflect on how you might respond to an autistic adult in your Parish, in light of Joshua, the 53 year old Orthodox Christian man, and the facts of American adult autistic life.
It is located in Lakeland, Florida. If you read the comments to this the article, you will find that not everyone is happy with the concept, nor with the claim that it is new. Others think it is great. The one side claims the community is segregated, and the residents will miss out on inclusion in the wider community. The other side sees the safety provisions and the camaraderie of people in similar circumstances as wonderful qualities for a housing community. One person commented that he feels that the push for independence for persons with disabilities has swung too far, so that the pendulum is swinging the other way. Decide for yourself by reading bot the article and the comments. Access the article here: From Disability Scoop 
Arms Open Wide 
