AUTISM and JW children

by apostatekate 34 Replies latest social family

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  likeabird

  Nugget, I'm very sorry you had to go through all that, but thank you for sharing.

  When I was growing up, autism wasn't so well known, but I remember some cases of Schizophrenia, even among JW children. I remember certain people going around saying that these ones were most probably demon possessed because the family had bought second hand objects and kept them in their house. They had the gall to even tell the families to their face that they should get rid of their stuff and the problem would go away.

  I cannot see what this religion offers any child.

  I totally agree. I just wish my childhood hadn't been totally sacrificed to it.
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  d

  Sad Jw see children with special needs as a burden. The level of intolerance is sad.
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  EnlightenedEphesian

  My sister has twins that are autistic. For about the fiirst 5 years of their life, she tried to take them to the meetings, but they would always set in the "library" with the door closed. It was very difficult for the kids to be confined to such a small place for what seemed like an eternity to them. They wanted to be up and around and could not possibly be quiet. Then, they couldn't socialize before or after the meeting because the noise of the conversations was overwhelming and would make the children literally scream and throw up. Meetings were really the most stressful events of their week. Finally, my sister realized it just wasn't practical to try to take them, so she usually just listens in over the phone. When she does go, she gets my mom, who is not a witness to watch them. What gets me, is how all the "friends" would say, "Just let me know what I can do to help." But in reality, very little if any help is ever offered.
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  Listener

  The elders have a book called 'Shepherding the Flock' and it doesn't even come close to dealing with these types of issues, shame on them.
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  LisaRose

  What other religion would even think of making children sit still for hours of boring meetings a week, no matter the age or physical or mental handicap? I am sure the mom who stayed home with her kids was talked about and criticized for it. I visited a church where the children were involved for about ten minutes, they got to go up front and make a comment, then they were led off to Sunday school. We had a brother that wanted to get the kids involved, they would color their Watchtower's, and get on stage to show it if they wanted. That lasted until the CO visit, then it got shut down.

  And they wonder why the kids don't stay when they grow up.
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  bigmac

  i'm delighted to say ive met Nugget & Cantleave (!! ) 's children on several occasions. they are very intelligent kids--and great company. i cant begin to imagine how they coped in those awful meetings. getting out of the cult is the best thing you could have done for them N. x
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  KateWild

  Hi Kate,

  I am the mother of an Autitic child too, and am Autistic myself. Welcome to the forum, I will give you my son's experience when I get a chance. Take care Kate. Love from Kate xx (Sam)
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  jwfacts

  If you have a child with autism you would be in the outer circle at the congregation. One of the ones that is only put up with, just because you keep the numbers up.
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  humbled

  Nugget,

  I love how you reasoned: when there is no more violent, threatening talk of killing and judgement----your child could endure a meeting. AND THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN. Out you all came.
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  tiki

  i do think a lot of this depends on the congregation population and culture. i know of two severely mentally challenged children who grew up going to meetings and appropriate accomodations were made for them. but - their issues were radical. too often kids who present with "bad" behaviors actually have diagnoses that need to be considered and respected, and sadly enough there are those with tunnel vision who think that you can just slap them into line...

  i have a neighbor with an autistic son and i can't even imagine the challenge and the impossibility of expecting him to sit through 2 hours of humdrum or to do the field service thing. from where i sit, it is just plain impossible and would be highly unloving and downright cruel of a parent to try to treat such a child the way the cookie-cutter style the wt seems to think is the way to go.