Beyond accommodations for autistic church members

Churches can become more welcoming places for people with autism by listening to individuals and families, reducing sensory barriers, and creating opportunities for autistic people to use their gifts in the life of the congregation, a Baylor University disability ministry expert said.

Jason Le Shana, program director of Baylor University’s Collaborative on Faith and Disability, encourages churches to look beyond simply accommodating people with autism.

“No two people are exactly alike or have identical needs,” Le Shana said. “As a result, it is essential to start with listening to the particular experiences of the people and families already in our midst.”

Autism spectrum disorder, commonly called autism, is a neurological and developmental condition that can affect communication, social interaction, learning, behavior, and the way a person experiences sensory input. Because autism is a spectrum, people can have widely different abilities, characteristics, and support needs.

Church and sensory

For some autistic people, a church service can be overstimulating because of factors such as lighting, temperature, volume, and smells.

Churches can address some of those challenges by adjusting their environments when possible and by providing sensory supports or designated spaces where people can take a break.

Grant Macaskill, co-director of the Centre for Autism and Theology at the University of Aberdeen and professor at the University of Durham, addressed sensory issues for autistic people in a chapter of his book, Autism and the Church: Bible, Theology, and Community.

“The sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches that attend these interactions may be distracting or overwhelming for some, while others they may not even register,” Macaskill wrote.

“If such social and sensory challenges can be difficult in day-to-day life, they are intensively so in the context of the church, in worship services awash with stimuli, set within an expectation that the church ‘community’ will express itself in accepted ways.”

Even social interactions can be challenging due to “unambiguously visible” reactions toward behaviors others may find disapproving, Macaskill wrote.

Some autistic people may stim—repeating certain movements or sounds as a way of aiding self-regulation—while others may use headphones or other sensory supports during worship.

Some may communicate without using spoken words or may rely on alternative forms of communication.

“For autistic people, it is not uncommon for church to feel like an overstimulating place,” La Shana said.

“Considering things like lighting, temperature, volume, and even smells can help support participation. Providing sensory supports or break spaces can also be tremendously helpful. And we encourage churches to maintain a posture of flexibility.”

Preparing congregations

Churches can help create a welcoming environment by preparing congregations to understand and accept differences rather than treating them as disruptions, Le Shana said.

“Others may not communicate through words or use alternative forms of communication. Church leaders can help normalize these kinds of behaviors, recognizing they are ordinary aspects of the community being together, and lead the congregation in a way that fosters flexibility and awareness,” he said.

“Part of that flexibility and awareness would, I hope, lead pastors and ministry leaders to continue to have those conversations with individuals and families about what is working, how participation can be better supported, and so forth.”

Opportunities to serve and lead

The goal, however, should extend beyond accommodating autistic people, Le Shana said. Churches also should consider how autistic members can use their gifts to serve and lead, whether it’s through music, missions, or administrative work.

“Like anyone else, autistic people have gifts to contribute to the life of the local church,” Le Shana said.

“A starting place might be to consider how anyone gets involved in leadership opportunities and then take an honest look at whether that approach is conducive to welcoming the gifts of people with autism as well.”

Churches can examine their process of identifying and inviting people into leadership roles as well as the structure set in place to cultivate those gifts while engaging in discipleship.

Le Shana encouraged churches to consider how all members, including those with autism, can contribute in meaningful, honorable ways suited to their gifts and interests.

“This is good not just for the individual, but especially for the whole congregation as we all get to benefit from the gifts of one another,” he said.

The result can be a church community where accessibility is not simply an accommodation for a particular group, but part of the congregation’s understanding of what it means to worship and serve together.