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Seminar Focuses on Learning How to Include People with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities into Faith Communities
Parents, religious educators, clergy and Caldwell College students came out to a workshop focusing on Autism and Faith on Saturday Jan. 31 at the College. They wanted to learn how to empower faith communities to include people with Autism and other Developmental Disabilities into their congregations.
The topics of the day included: An Introduction to Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities with Linda Meyer, Ed.D., M.P.A. , BCBA, The Executive Director of Autism-New Jersey, formerly The NJ Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community (COSAC) and Anne Masters, M.A., Director of Pastoral Ministry with Persons with Disabilities for the Archdiocese of Newark; The Charism of Hospitality with Mary Beth Walsh, Ph.D., who is an adjunct in the Theology Department at Caldwell and the mother of a child with Autism and Ann Masters; Walking in faith with People with Developmental Disabilities in Catechesis, Liturgy and Participation in the Parish, with Linda Meyer, and Jessica Rothschild, M.A., a graduate of Caldwell College’s Master of Arts program in Applied Behavior Analysis whose research focused on teaching children with autism to participate in church activities with their families.
Father James Ferry, from Our Lady of Lourdes parish in West Orange, NJ said he attended the workshop to learn more about serving families with developmental disabilities, the dimensions of their lives, and their difficulties. Mercedes Davidson came because she said wanted some guidance in preparing a class of children, most of whom are autistic, for their celebration of First Eucharist at Queen of Peace parish in North Arlington.
The workshop was sponsored by the Department of Theology/Pastoral Ministry at Caldwell College. Sister Barbara Moore, O.P. is Coordinator of the Pastoral Ministry Graduate program and she organized the program. “Pastoral Ministry is about facilitating the gifts and blessings of one’s Faith Tradition with life experience.” Whether the participants were in church leadership or directly involved with a disabled or autistic person, they came away enriched. “That so many people did benefit from the day is something for which the Caldwell community can be proud,” Sister Barbara said.
The day concluded with a prayer service written by Walsh and Sister Honora Werner, O.P., which included the singing of the song, “All Are Welcome”. Attendees were invited to break down a small wall made of Legos, and to take a piece with them to remind them of their commitment to dismantling barriers to inclusion in faith communities for those with developmental disabilities.
Caldwell College is a leader in training autism specialists. The College has a master’s and a post master’s certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a science based approach to learning and a highly effective way to educate people with Autism. A national conference on ABA will be held at the College on Friday April 17 and Friday April 24, 2009. To find out more, go to