Attending with autistic child

[DreamyAmberKoala]

We are catholic and have always practised. Our daughter is 9 years old, has made her first confession and communion. She is diagnosed autistic and her younger brother (5) is suspected to be. Mass each week is becoming more and more stressful, it use to enjoy going now it is just a chore. Our daughter finds the busyness overwhelming ( with the announcements this week is going to get worse - they are closing many of the churches around is) and noise.

Our diocese only runs one ASN mass every other week that clashes with our daughter's gymnastics - on of the few thigs she enjoys each week. Any advice to help her in mass? Most churches near us don't have cry chapels and if they do they are full of late comers.

I don’t what service you attend. I was at a Catholic evening Saturday mass yesterday and it lasted about 40 minutes.

Perhaps if you go to a Sunday service which is over an hour you could change it to Saturday evening service if your church has one if they are shorter.

Perhaps to if you don’t take a fidget for a child, a squishy perhaps or even rosary in hand can be helpful to some people. Perhaps they can use ear defenders when they find things difficult to. I have worn them in church myself a few times and felt a bit like people may wonder about them. I don't use them anymore in church as a difficulty resolved. I have seen others using them in church like in Songs of Praise on the BBC and thought they looked ok. I use rosary beads as a sensory aid and I find it helpful.I to am diagnosed as autistic.