Church makes accommodations for sensory overload

VERMILION — Vermilion's Grace United Methodist Church recently incorporated a sensory room so those with a sensory processing disorder can comfortably attend church. Jim Chapple, associate professor for special education at Notre Dame College, said that the money used for the project was due to a grant received from the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. Chapple said the church's director for church education, Nicole Barrick, had the idea of using the grant money to create a sensory room to help accommodate those with sensory processing disorders. "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 through the creation of accommodations including our new sensory room," church pastor Doug Winner said. Chapple and Barrick said the new sensory room can be used in two ways: • People can borrow an item from the sensory room to use during the service. • Those experiencing sensory overload also have the option of leaving the service and going to the sensory room to calm their senses. "Vermilion Grace United Methodist Church strongly believes in our mission to make the church a welcoming place for everyone. We invite families with adults and children who may have previously felt unwelcome or uncomfortable in a worship setting to join us and see if this experience is right for you," Barrick said. Vermilion Grace United Methodist Church is located at 13406 W. Lake Road, Vermilion. For more information or questions about the program, contact Chapple by email at chappjw@aol.com or call 440-225-1547 or Barrick at nicole@vermiliongrace.com at 440-829-2828.