ASD & Religion, Part 1: The Basics

Faith is an important cornerstone of most civilizations. Religion is, for many families, an integral part of their personal and cultural identity, and the foundation of their values and perspectives. The presence of a person with autism in a family can change how they interact with their religious community.

Many places of worship have established disability services, including classrooms, paraprofessionals, special services (the religious kind, not the resources kind), community events, and an established core of families with extensive experience with disabilities who can provide support to each other.

The ASD & Religion blog series is designed to guide faith leaders and places of worship to help make their communities a safe and accessible place for people with autism and the loved ones in their lives. We seek to lower barriers, promote inclusion, and spread awareness.

Here are some basic approaches:

• Autism is a difference, not an illness. Understand that there is a spectrum of difference between people. As the disability community tends to say: if you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism.

• Focus on the strengths, preferences, and talents of those with autism. Don’t just highlight their challenges.

• Remember that autistic people may seek relationship (with others and with God) in a different way than we might be used to.

• If the person is involved with an agency or if they have support workers, make sure they know that your place of worship is open to their presence. Invite the agency to learn more about your site and faith, so that they can support the autistic person better. Participate in their goals.

• Maintain the expectation that all individuals are capable of learning.

• Encourage family involvement wherever possible.

As always, get out there and do good.