A note to email subscribers: We are attempting to fix the glitch which has prevented our recent notifications for new blog posts from sending. If you have not received our latest notifications, we direct your attention now to our two most recent posts:
Additionally, we invite readers to see Fr. Mark Nolette’s guest blog post on the National Catholic Partnership on Disability webpage: Autism Appreciation: Lessons from Horton Hears A Who
Thank you!
Aimee O’Connell – Autism Consecrated
Tap here for AUDIO in English on our YouTube channel
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All Souls Day, 2020
Heavenly Father,
We commend to Your loving care
all the autistic souls who have gone before us:
Those whom we knew well;
Those we knew only from a distance;
Those with whom we worked, as helpers and as colleagues;
Those who were our neighbors;
Those who were our classmates;
Those who stand out in our memories
as quirky, different, eccentric and odd;
Those who were accepted and welcomed;
Those who were marginalized,
bullied,
mocked,
and turned away;
Those who communicated easily with others;
Those who communicated without words;
Those whom others found difficult to reach;
Those who were overwhelmed by the sensory demands of their environment;
Those within our own families
who succeeded;
who struggled;
who knew that they were autistic;
who wondered why they were different;
who were accepted with love and patience;
who were difficult to connect with;
Those who died alone
in group homes;
in mental institutions;
in hospitals;
in nursing homes;
in isolation from others;
in homelessness;
Those who died without the benefit of being understood for
who they were;
why they were different;
what their actual diagnosis was;
what their actual capacity for love was;
what their interests were;
what their intellectual capacity was;
what gave them joy;
what brought them sadness;
all that made them who they are;
For all autistic souls who have gone before us:
May they rest in Eternal love, acceptance and peace,
and may their memory inspire us
to love more, understand better,
and cultivate patience
with ourselves, and with one another.
In the Holy Name of Jesus, we pray,
Amen.
Autism Consecrated Resource Library Call for Submissions
April, 2020: Autism Consecrated is pleased to announce an open call for submissions for publishing on our website’s Resource Area, social media and video channels.
Our goal is to invite people from across all communities, worldwide, to share their insights, ideas and testimonies in an effort to create a comprehensive resource library accessible by anyone with an internet connection. Whatever your background may be, if you have thoughts toward achieving Autism Consecrated’s vision “to realize autism’s belonging in the Body of Christ,” we would love to share them far and wide! Read on to learn more about the goals of the conference and what we look for in submissions.
Types of Submissions
As every person has their own personal communication strengths, so too are we looking for a diverse array of submissions. The manner in which you communicate best is the one we are looking for. Audio, visual, video and written submissions are all welcome.
Who May Submit Presentations
The short answer is, “anyone!”
That said, here are some more specific examples of who might be interested in participating.
Autistic People and their Supporters
There are few presentations as valuable as those which come from direct, firsthand expertise. In fact, it would be impossible to build a resource library to address the needs of the autistic community without having its foundation in the autistic community itself! What are your spiritual needs? What are the practical challenges to being autistic Christians? What ways does autism enhance your faith and that of your community?
Key Players in Faith Communities
What have you seen that affirms – or, would affirm – the value of autistic members in our faith communities? How can we foster such initiatives in our own and in other communities? How does the perception of the community encourage autistic people to fulfill their potential in the Body of Christ, even when autism at times appears to interfere with this purpose?
Clergy and Administrators
What are the successes, as well as the challenges, you have seen in meeting the spiritual needs of the autistic community? What supports do YOU need in serving the autistic community?
Scholars, Theologians and Essayists
How do we reconcile autism’s gifts and challenges with Sacred Scripture, Church Tradition and the theology of disability? How can we discuss this in ways that include, accept and invite people who may feel unworthy or incapable of participating in worship and community faith activities because of autism?
What we are looking for
Diverse topics
While there will be some overlap expected, we are hoping to get a variety of responses from many perspectives so that our library can truly become a resource for the wide, wide community.
Practicality and positivity
Submissions should reflect hope, encouragement and possibility. While there is a time and a place for addressing grievances, our library is intended to go beyond identifying problems into generating and offering solutions.
The Gift of your Expertise
Autism Consecrated is a website, not a business. While we are glad to have this be a mutually beneficial opportunity for professional exposure, and we are aware that many contributors have legitimate reason to promote their talents, the primary reason for contributing to our library is to offer your particular expertise as a gift to others and other communities. If promotion is the main thrust of your submission, please consider a more appropriate venue to publicize your work.
Respectful Language
“Realizing Autism’s Belonging in the Body of Christ” is the banner under which our website resides. Although we are Christian in our beliefs, we respect everyone of all abilities, backgrounds and traditions, and we ask that submissions show that same respect to one and all. We reserve the right to edit or refuse submissions that do not consistently uphold the inherent dignity of every person as a child of God.
Selection Process
We will review submissions in the order in which they are received, and strive to notify you of selection status in as short a time frame as circumstances allow.
Format Details
Submissions may be in the format which best reflects your communication style, so long as they are generally coherent and able to be accessed by the worldwide online audience. Length is at your creative discretion. As a general rule, the more efficiently you convey your key message, the better the chances of reaching your intended audience.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please email us at autismconsecrated@gmail.com and we will respond as soon as we are able.
Ready? Set? SUBMIT! All submissions become the property of Autism Consecrated and must be accompanied by a signed release form in order to be considered.
Submit your contribution and signed release form to:
Thank You!
-Aimée O’Connell, Co-Founder of Autism Consecrated
A note to our subscribers (and all readers!) – the Annotated Catechism for Autistic Thinking, or ACAT, is being moved from the old site to our new home. Please bear with us as these posts are placed, as this is going to hit like a wave in your inbox. This is a one-time phenomenon which will allow future Annotated Catechism posts to integrate with our regular weekly thoughts from here on out.
Thank you for your patience!