Kris Mitchell presented at #equipkc on bridging the gap between autism and the Church. Kris is a marriage and Family Therapist specializing in Autism, Tourette’s, OCD, and ADHD for the Joshua Center in Kansas City and Nazarene youth pastor on the #kcdistrict. Mitchell both recognizes the need to pay attention to language parents and children use in their understanding autism but also emphasizing the focus on neurodiversity language with church people in order to bless the dignity of children.

Kris offers his definition as “A neurodevelopmental condition that presents the individual with various challenges to various degrees in communication and often includes sensory processing difficulties.”

However Kris stresses we do not define children by their behaviors/symptoms… but as kids first and foremost. The prevalence in autism seems to be growing from 1 in 90 in 2012 to 1 in 36 today. Autism also gestures to the needs of other children, 17% who have neurodevelopmental challenges today, inviting churches to respond.

Kris also notes that children with autism “communicate” through behavior in light of other sensory needs. We tend to judge behavior as good and bad rather than understand it as a form of communication. The result? While 96% of congregants believe they are welcoming, a statistical study by Li-Ching Lee, et al note families with autism are 50 – 70% less likely to attend a religious service with 32.1% never attending a worship service compared to general population at 24.4%. A study by Melinda Jones, et al notes that parents of autistic children felt less supported by their church.

So to be a bridge churches must focus less on programming and more on relationships. Moving from fear to humility, allow for messiness yet preserve the dignity of children, and to be patient. Wise words.

Kris Mitchell serves as one of our consultants with #NTS Nurturng Care/KC initiative encouraging new worship and prayer efforts among children with autism. https://nurturingcare.org