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Neurodivergence in the Church (or Not)

When we say, “All are welcome,” we often mean that we are friendly to the people who look and act like us. The church has gotten marginally better at welcoming people of diverse races, genders, and identities, but neurodivergent folk often fly under the radar because they may look just like us and be related to people who fit in with us. Often times, their struggles are interpreted as choosing bad behavior, not unmet needs and overwhelming feelings.

Neurodivergent individuals and their families can struggle to feel comfortable in many congregations because of noise, expectation to sit still, facility limitations, and other unwritten expectations related to behavior. Many neurodivergent individuals and their families simply don’t attend worship because they are afraid of causing a scene (even if we’re okay with it) or shame, or the stress of it all is just too great.

From the 2013 study Congregational Participation and Supports for Children and Adults with Disabilities: Parent Perceptions (external link) by Melinda Jones Ault, Belva C Collins, and Erik W Carter:

56% of families with disabilities kept their children home because of lack of support.
46% report having never been asked by a church leader how to include their child.
33% who attended report changing places of worship because they felt excluded.

From the 2018 study Religion and Disability: Variation in Religious Service Attendance Rates for Children with Chronic Health Conditions (PDF) by Andrew L Whitehead, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, & Criminal Justice Clemson University, we see that kids who struggle with behavior and social skills are less likely to attend religious services than other kids. The increased chance of not attending compared to neurotypical kids is:

19% for children with ADHD,
36% with a conduct disorder,
45% with anxiety,
55% with autism, and
84% with a learning disability.

We want to be a people where all can feel comfortable as God made them, not as they are "expected" to be. There are simple things we can do to create safe and empowering communities of faith that don't just accommodate or confine neurodivergence, but brings out the best in each person.

What Congregations Can Do...

We can talk about neurodiversity. Talking about it--in our conversations, communications, faith formation, preaching, and social media--makes a big difference. We can begin to understand what we’re willing to acknowledge.
We can plan diverse activities. We can utilize a variety of communication methods to match different learning styles. We don’t have to cancel or moderate loud and social events, but we can also plan quiet and comfortable events.
We can adjust our expectations. When we notice “behaviors,” we can try to understand the unmet need and respond to that, rather than casting shame or punishing. We can be flexible when things don’t go according to plan.
We can offer support. By considering conditions that might make church distressing for some people--such as noise, silence, uncertainty, and social interaction--we can offer options to reduce distress.
We can be curious. We can ask questions and try to learn. When we notice someone is uncomfortable, we can ask them what they are experiencing. When someone is masking, we can seek the person beneath the mask.

Ideas for Congregations:

Neurodivergent people are... diverse. Not every idea fits every person or every congregation.

Smaller congregations can be personal and tailor ministry. Learn about the neurological conditions members have.
Utilize awareness days or months to share information about neurodiversity or different neurological diagnoses.
Schedule workshops or faith formation topics that educate people about neurodiversity.
Invite parents to share unique needs so leaders can help kids be more engaged. Some neurodivergence isn’t fully manifest or diagnosed until teenage years, so consider doing this at the start of every year. Follow up and ask questions.
Understand that some physical movements and vocal outbursts are tics. Some people might shout, “No!” when they are nervous, not because they are defiant.
Don’t assume every older kid can read well. Reading the Bible out loud can be terrifying for someone who is dyslexic.
Embrace the Christian tendency to order and routine. Regular patterns and bulletins help people know what to expect, reducing anxiety.
Have a variety of fidgets available. Keeping bodies active can make it easier to keep brains focused. Good options are finger labyrinths, handheld crosses, flip sequin crosses, fuzzy sheep, cross-shaped pop fidgets, stuffed animals, tangles, and heart-shaped stress balls. Avoid fidgets that make noise, are part of the latest fad, or that resemble balls that beg to be thrown.
Provide Bible coloring pages, blank paper for open creativity, and coloring tools to utilize during worship. Have a place to post these expressions of worship.
Offer weighted lap pads (calming effect), noise-reducing headphones (reduce sensory input), wobble cushions (allow movement without walking around), chair leg bands (to bounce feet), and other supports.
Create a sensory / quiet room. This isn’t for people to hang out and avoid church, but to calm down and regulate brains and bodies when overwhelmed. Along with other supports on this list, it might have a fuzzy rug, bubble and light tube, flip-sequin wall, comfy seating, and muted lighting. Never use this as a “time-out” place for disruptive behavior.
Consider the fonts used for the newsletter, bulletin, and website. Extra-fancy scripts might look pretty, but they can be difficult for individuals with dyslexia to read.
Allow for an “easy” exit from worship that doesn’t involve standing in line and shaking hands.
Create a friendship table or bench where people who struggle to start conversations can sit to indicate they’d enjoy socializing, but need someone else to start the conversation. Consider adding a puzzle or Legos to the table to make it easier to be together without intense eye contact.
Create a marker to put on nametags for people who would prefer not to interact socially.
Ask an autistic person about their special interest (something they can’t stop talking about), not just what you love to talk about. Then just listen.
Do not limit who gets to utilize supports. Anyone can benefit, even if they don’t have a diagnosis. Every kid might be eager to “try” supports when first offered, but their interest will moderate once the novelty wears off. Also, there are a lot of people (especially adults) who appear to be neurotypical, but who are just really good at masking and who could really benefit from support.

Resources Exist

These resources are uniquely created to support churches welcoming those who are neurodivergent:

Wonderful Works Ministry: Equipping Churches To Support Families Affected By Disability
- Provides resources, toolkits, accessible Bible stories for all disabilities. Created by the Church of the Nazarene.
- www.wonderfulworksministry.org
Nurturing Care with Children in Worship and Prayer
- Lilly-funded project in the Kansas City area seeking to design practices that help autistic children nurture faith. Offers additional resources and projects.
- www.nts.edu/nurturing-care
National Study of Disability and Ministry
- Explores the current landscape of disability and ministry. Includes interviews with 200 people from 48 states who were actively involved in leading a formal disability ministry, a church’s accessibility committee, or other active efforts to include or support people with disabilities and their families, as well as church leaders who themselves have disabilities.
- https://www.disabilityministry.org/
Retelling of Biblical stories for those who are neurodivergent (coming soon)
- Stories of eight Biblical characters reframed in ways that are more relatable for those who are neurodivergent. Their stories will be told in ways that highlight their struggles to fit in and how God blesses the world through them through their atypical characteristics (not in spite of them).
- Videos coming by spring 2026 to this website and YouTube. Self-print books with these stories and accompanying resources will be made available here by summer 2026. If you'd like to be notified when these become available or to provide feedback on early drafts, please fill out our contact form.

Books (links to Amazon):

For additional resources (necessarily intended for churches), visit our full resource list.

A Note About Symbols...

Autism is best represented with a gold or rainbow infinity symbol instead of a puzzle piece. The puzzle piece is the logo for the organization Autism Speaks. Some autistic adults don’t view Autism Speaks favorably and may find it off-putting. Feelings are mixed, and we offer no endorsement or judgement of the organization here, but we do want you to be aware that it's a complicated and passionate topic for some.

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