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Respite program for families with autistic children aims to foster more community, less isolation

November 3, 2016 / By Kathleen Christiansen

The Autism Society of the Greater Capital Region recently received a $5,000 seed grant from the New York State Caregiving & Respite Coalition to begin a respite program for families with autistic children. The society is currently working with United Methodist churches in the Albany area to get the program up and running.

The Rev. Alan Kinney, pastor at the Eastern Parkway UMC in Schenectady and on the Autism Society’s board of directors; the Rev. Steven Smith, pastor at the Newtonville UMC; and Pastor Jonathan Walter, serving at the Stanford UMC in Schenectady, are among those helping to turn this vision for a respite program into a reality.

“What we are looking to provide are for families who have family members who are on the autism spectrum an opportunity for some respite, a place where they could bring family members and know that they’re safe, know that they’re cared for, know that they’re enjoying themselves and provide a rest for the family,” Rev. Kinney said. “Autism can be draining for the family.”

The coalition approached Janine Kruiswijk, the Executive Director of the Autism Society, telling her they were interested in expanding the reach of voluntary, community-based respite programs.

“They realized there was an extended need for respite, including for children who may have disabilities,” she said. “So when we took a look at it, and we started to understand the work of the coalition, there was a tremendous need for respite within the autism community.”

The society applied for the grant and received it in early October.

“Families are not always approved through state-funded respite for enough respite hours, and some families don’t meet the eligibility to acquire to respite dollars through the state system,” Kruiswijk said. “And so this is an opportunity to serve our community, to expand respite opportunities for those who may be receiving it and to offer respite to those who have often been cut out of the respite opportunity.”

The Autism Society will use the REST (Respite Education & Support Tools) program to train “REST companions,” who will be the ones to deliver the respite care. The program will utilize a drop-in model, which means families can make reservations to drop off children ages 5-18 with autism at one of the program’s locations, which will include faith communities, churches, synagogues, and more.

“The grant makes the program possible and for the Church to be the Church,” Rev. Kinney said.

Rev. Smith said his congregation will play a part in the program, either hosting it within his church’s walls or providing staffing.

He said the program will provide opportunities for caregivers of children with autism to have time to do things for themselves and run errands, while providing a safe and welcoming place for those children.

In addition to dropping children off, Kruiswijk said families can stay on the premise and have a conversation with a parent or family facilitator as well.

Beyond respite, Rev. Smith said the program will result in less isolation for families with autistic children. He said people in local congregations will also benefit, as the program will help increase their understanding and acceptance of autism.

“I hope that it will be a resource for other congregations in other places that might want to do something similar and perhaps spread beyond something that we just do here locally,” Rev. Smith said.

Since the Autism Society spans an eight-county area, Rev. Kinney said this program has the potential to expand beyond the Upper New York Conference and into the New York Conference. Those involved with the program are trying to get other denominations involved as well.

“I’m hoping that we will be able to provide not just respite care, but the churches that are being trained will be able to open their doors to people who are on the spectrum,” Rev. Kinney said. “There are other portions of our population who cannot worship in the way that we worship because of being differently abled, but how do we help them grow in their discipleship and their understanding of God’s grace, of God’s love?”