Creating a more welcoming faith community can start with a simple question: What can we do differently?
We believe inclusion is about more than awareness. It’s about creating opportunities for autistic individuals and their families to participate, connect, and grow in their faith. Small changes can make a big difference. This includes taking a look at worship services, ministries offered, and the way church members respond.
As we celebrate six years, we’re highlighting six key resources that we have developed. These resources offer ideas, encouragement, and practical steps for creating more welcoming and inclusive faith communities. Use these resources as a place to start. They are helpful for parents, ministry leaders, church volunteers, and those who want to help their congregation become more disability friendly.
2026 Autism Faith Network Toolkit
The 2026 Autism Faith Network Toolkit provides practical guidance for faith communities. It includes information and strategies to help congregations better understand autism, identify barriers to participation, and consider ways to create more supportive worship environments.
The toolkit is a great starting point for churches and other faith communities that are asking, “What can we do to make our place of worship more autism friendly?”
View the 2026 Autism Faith Network Toolkit
The Do’s and Don’ts of Making Your Place of Worship Inclusive for Autistic Children
Being autism friendly doesn’t have to be complicated. Small changes in the way a congregation communicates, plans activities, or responds to sensory needs can make a huge difference for an autistic child and their family.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Making Your Place of Worship Inclusive for Autistic Children offers simple reminders to help faith communities think about what they can do, and what they may want to avoid, as they work to create a more welcoming environment.
This resource can be especially useful for church leaders, children’s ministry staff, volunteers, and anyone who regularly interacts with children and families.
View the Do’s and Don’ts infographic
How to Nurture the Faith of Your Autistic Child
Parents and caregivers play an important role in helping children develop their faith. For families of autistic children, finding approaches that fit their child’s communication style, interests, sensory needs, and way of learning can make faith experiences more meaningful.
How to Nurture the Faith of Your Autistic Child offers ideas for parents and caregivers who want to support their child’s spiritual development.
This resource is available in English and Spanish.
View the English infographic | View the Spanish infographic
How Church Leadership Can Support Autistic Children and Their Families
Creating an inclusive faith community takes more than good intentions. Church leadership plays an important role in setting the tone, providing support, and helping staff and volunteers understand how they can better welcome autistic children and their families.
How Church Leadership Can Support Autistic Children and Their Families provides practical suggestions for church leaders who want to strengthen inclusion and help families feel supported.
Like the faith-nurturing resource, this infographic is available in English and Spanish.
View the English infographic | View the Spanish infographic
10 Steps to Becoming More Inclusive for People with Disabilities
Autism inclusion is part of a larger commitment to disability inclusion. Faith communities can take meaningful steps to make their buildings, programs, communication, and activities more accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities.
10 Steps to Becoming More Inclusive for People with Disabilities provides a practical starting point for congregations that want to look at their current practices and identify opportunities for improvement.
Remember, you don’t have to do everything at once. Inclusion can begin with one step, followed by another.
5 Faith-Based Social Media Post Ideas About Autism
Inclusion also means creating greater understanding beyond the walls of a place of worship. Social media can be a simple way for faith communities to share information about autism and encourage acceptance. This lets autistic individuals and their families know they are welcome.
5 Faith-Based Social Media Post Ideas About Autism gives churches ready-to-use ideas for incorporating autism awareness and inclusion into their social media outreach.
Sharing a social media message may seem like a small action, but it’s not. It can help start conversations, challenge misconceptions, and communicate that autistic individuals have a place in your faith community.
View the social media resource
Help Us Continue Creating Communities Where Everyone Belongs
Resources can provide information and ideas, but meaningful inclusion happens when people put those ideas into practice. Congregations can make a difference by:
- learning more about autism
- listening to families
- adapting its practices
- creating spaces where autistic individuals know they are welcomed and valued
As we celebrate six years of helping build more inclusive faith communities, we invite you to be part of what comes next. Your support helps us continue developing resources and supporting faith communities. It also helps us to create opportunities for autistic individuals and their families to experience greater inclusion and belonging.
Will you help us continue this work? Make a donation today and help the Autism Faith Network create more welcoming spaces where everyone has a place to belong.
Donate to Autism Faith Network