Mixing autism and religion
by Beth Finke
A TV news story yesterday about a church banning a teenager with autism from Sunday services prompted me to dig up this helpful resource — Autism and Faith: A Journey into Community is a 52-page guidebook to help clergy, religious educators and families develop “inclusive spiritual supports” for individuals with autism.
The guide is interfaith, with short articles from members of Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Muslim communities. The stories share the experiences, both positive and negative, that families with autism have had with their own faith communities. It’s written by clergy, parents, professional experts on autism, religious educators and best of all, it includes some first-person accounts by individuals with autism about their experiences in religious settings.
The Autism and Faith Task Force of New Jersey’s Center on Services for the Autism Community (COSAC) helped develop this guide, and residents of New Jersey can get their first copy free of charge. For others, the guide costs $5. More information about ordering Autism and Faith: A Journey into Community is available from the Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities.