We have two children. My older daughter is in the 4th grade at St. Raphael School. My younger daughter is in 2nd grade in Montgomery County schools. She has autism.
Autism is a term for a group of disorders of brain development characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Many people with autism have what is called self-stimulatory behaviors. Hand flapping is a common behavior among children with autism. My daughter scripts. That means that she repeats parts of songs or TV shows over and over again. People with autism may also have sensory issues. For example, the sound of a clock ticking might not be noticeable to you or me, but the sound can be deafening with someone with autism.
When my daughter was diagnosed five years ago, it was difficult. Overwhelming, emotional, and lonely. If your child has a diagnosis considered more medical in nature, you have doctors and patient care specialists at the ready to help guide treatment. That support doesn’t exist with autism. Parents have to find their way on their own, sort through all the possible treatments, school options, and therapies. Many treatments that children with autism need aren’t covered by insurance, so money is always an issue as well.
My daughter was in the middle of being diagnosed at the same time that applications were due for St. Raphael Nursery School. I realized that she wasn’t going to be able to go to St. Raphael. It was painful, but it was okay. We live in an area that has great resources and we knew that our daughter would benefit greatly from the amazing preschool programs for children with autism in Montgomery County.
But what about her Catholic faith formation?
I am a product of Catholic schools. My parents went to Catholic school. My brother went to Catholic school. I went to a Catholic, all girls’ school in Wilmington, Delaware for 12 years. I went to Catholic University. My Catholic education played such a big part in shaping who I am today. My older daughter goes to Catholic school now, too. But what about our little one?
Would our little girl miss out on a Catholic education and faith formation because of her disability?
Stay tuned for part two...
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