Neurodiversity

Join us as we continue learning how to be loving and inclusive of all God's children. Each month, we will focus our attention on a key term and explore possible actions that we can take. This month, we consider "sensory processing".

“In general, sensory processing is how your body and brain interpret all the information coming at you from your environment and from inside your own body,” says occupational therapist Amy Lowell, MS, OTR/L, sensory integration and autism clinical practice specialist. When a child has difficulty processing that information, it may cause them to overreact or underreact, impacting their ability to respond appropriately to sensory stimulus, regulate their emotions and participate in daily activities. This is sometimes referred to as being "sensory avoidant" or “sensory seeking.”

From https://www.childrenscolorado.org/just-ask-childrens/articles/sensory-processing-disorder/

What can I/we do specifically?

Because our sensory systems are vast and complex, we need a variety of approaches to meet people’s unique needs.

Provide a variety of materials in our Liturgical Library that people can choose to bring into worship or into another space.
Offer a variety of spaces within the church house where people can go to release energy or seek quiet.
Offer bulletins that provide a clear outline of our service
Read:

-What is sensory processing disorder in kids?

-Helping worshippers who are neurodivergent feel right at home

Liturgical Library

We recognize that our brains and bodies all have different needs when it comes to focusing, learning, listening, and worshiping. Based on what we have learned through our recent nurture study on neurodiversity, we are currently creating a “liturgical library” of resources and materials.

Our liturgical library, located in the main hallway near the mailboxes, makes space for a variety of materials to engage people of all ages during worship. The items included allow people to more fully connect with and engage in worship by regulating sensory inputs.

Our library includes:

Fidgets and sensory aids: stress balls, infinity cubes, nee doh, thinking putty
Creation Station with markers, pens, colored pencils, and crayons; clipboards and paper, wikki stix and pipe cleaners
Engaging Resources: Moses’s tablets, lacing cards, labyrinths

How do you use the liturgical library?

Grab a bag and add items that you’d like to use to engage in worship. After worship, return your bag to the basket at the base of the library (keep any paper/creations you’ve made but return other materials with the bag). Following use during worship, we will clean and sort the materials to be ready for the following week.

Spaces for Worship

First Floor

Sanctuary with Prayground. You are invited to gather materials at the Liturgical Library to bring with you into worship. The prayground is home to puzzles, books, and stuffed animals appropriate for our youngest disciples.
Commons: Includes stations for young disciples, nursery, and the streamed worship service. Materials available include Legos, kinetic sand/Mad Matter, Thinking Putty, art materials, tangrams and fidgets. This space tends to be a little noisier but is used by fewer people.
Yoke Room: This is a beautiful quiet space with no access to the streamed worship service.

Second Floor

Centering Space Room 1: Includes stations for young disciples and the streamed worship service. There is comfortable seating available and quiet materials to support self-regulation.
Centering Space Room 2: Includes more active stations for young disciples who need room to move.
Harbor Room: This quiet space has comfortable seating, a small kitchen and bathroom. The service is not accessible in this space, but there are a variety of contemplative materials available.