By Rick Wolcott*

The mission of Vermilion Grace UMC (West Plains District) is “to invite all into joyous and caring Christian community.” To welcome “all”, the church in March unveiled a new sensory room next to the sanctuary. Partially funded by a grant from the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church, the room was specifically designed to assist people who have a sensory processing disorder to interpret information using the seven senses.

“We feel like people who would utilize this room, whether it be for kids who have Autism, kids who have anxiety, adults who have Autism or anxiety, people with developmental disabilities, people with dementia or PTSD, we feel like they or their family might feel like they shouldn’t be in church because there’s this idea that in church everybody sits and listens and doesn’t move and doesn’t talk. That’s not true and we want to make it known that we welcome everybody. We want people to feel like they belong in this church community,” said Grace UMC Christian Education Director Nicole Barrick, who is a mother, a full-time teacher, and the author of the grant application.

Statistics show that at least one in 20 people have some sort of sensory processing disorder that causes their brains to not interpret information properly. Sometimes when that happens the person needs a way to cope and address that sensory overload, and Grace UMC is providing avenues for that to occur. The sensory room, staffed by two trained church members, can be a place to go during the service for someone who feels overwhelmed sitting in the sanctuary. Items from the sensory room can also be taken to the sanctuary to aid in a person’s participation in the service.

“We also have sensory equipment in the sanctuary for people who may not need to leave but would like headphones or sunglasses or fidget toys or flexible seating. There are different things like weighted lap pads and bags that have manipulatives that can be used to calm and redirect anxiety,” Barrick said.

She and Dr. Jim Chapple, associate professor of Special Education at Notre Dame College selected the sensory items for the room and the sanctuary, and they hope to write additional grants to support the special needs ministry in the future.

“The sensory room is the first that I have heard of in a faith community. It is available to persons of all ages and offers a place where families can participate in their faith journey,” Chapple said.  

“We are truly excited to create a new resource for our Sunday morning worship environment that helps make it possible for all people including folks with special needs to feel welcome and experience God’s love in worship,” said Rev. Doug Winner.

He, Barrick, and others are also designing a once-a-month 20-minute interactive worship experience with stories and music followed by a social time of food and recreation.

“So, if you’re thinking, ‘I’d really like to go to church I just don’t know if my family member can do it’ you can try this shorter service and socialize afterward. Caregivers will also be given an opportunity to meet during that time for support, if they wish,” Barrick said. “We want everybody here and we have help if you need extra supports.”

*Rick Wolcott is executive director of Communications for the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.