Watching my son arrange dinosaurs during Mass—his way of staying regulated—reminds me how far our Catholic family has come on our autism journey. What once felt impossible has become a chance to witness the Church embracing all her members, including those on the spectrum.
Like many parents of autistic children, I once felt isolated during liturgy. The sensory overload of incense, music, crowds, and unpredictable sounds made Mass attendance a weekly struggle rather than a source of peace. Yet across America, parishes increasingly recognize these challenges and respond with creativity, compassion, and concrete solutions.
The Hidden Challenge in Our Pews
My perspective on autism dramatically changed after my oldest son’s diagnosis. Before then, I viewed the world in simpler categories—good or bad, respectful or disrespectful. But autism isn’t monochromatic; it’s kaleidoscopic.
In a previous reflection, I shared how learning about my son’s autism opened up a new realm of possibilities. I’ve come to see that individuals with autism spectrum disorder are truly unique. There is a broad range of needs and gifts, along with a wide array of services available to assist individuals.
This spectrum nature creates both challenges and opportunities for parishes. Recent statistics show that nearly 1 in 45 children ages 3–17 have an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Many remain invisible within our church communities. Sometimes their needs aren’t obvious, or their families have stopped attending due to sensory barriers.
Creating Sensory-Friendly Spaces
Across the United States, innovative approaches are emerging to welcome these families back.
In Sioux Falls, the Diocesan Special Needs Ministry offers “Mass bags” with earplugs, Catholic fidgets, picture schedules, and guides for children with autism.
“We are constantly looking for ways to include those with special needs in the church and making sure they have full communion,” explains Maggie Price, Special Education Consultant with the Diocese of Sioux Falls. “Jesus always provides a way and in my 12 years in ministry we have yet to have to turn someone away from the sacraments who was desiring it.”
Fr. Matthew Schneider, LC, himself an autistic priest and advocate for autistic Catholics, suggests creating what he calls a “reverse cry-room”—a sensory-friendly environment where “the audio and lights are turned way down… while the main body of the Church remains the same.”
Saint Peter Chanel Catholic Church in Roswell, Georgia, embraced this approach. Jeanne Lyons helped transform their “Holy Family room” into a sensory haven. “We asked my pastor to take over one of the rooms to bring in sensory equipment to allow families to come to Mass,” Lyons shared in an interview via telephone in March 2025.
Their sensory space includes practical accommodations such as:
- A small indoor swing
- Mini-trampoline
- Special bean bag chair for deep pressure
- Spin-board
- Sensory wall with different textures (made by an Eagle Scout in the parish)
- Picture schedule of the Mass displayed on a clothesline
“The picture schedule helps to draw the kids back into the Mass,” Lyons explained. “The pictures are taken down by the sensory room volunteers and shown to all the families at each part of the Mass… We have never heard the kids asking about how much time is left. Predictability of the visual schedule helps and puts the ritual in visual representation.”
Sacramental Preparation with Dignity
Dioceses are going beyond Sunday Mass accommodations. They’re creating new ways to prepare autistic individuals for the sacraments that respect their unique learning styles.
The Diocese of Sioux Falls offers specialized sacramental preparation classes using Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori approach to faith formation. “It is a great fit for individuals with autism because it provides a sensory experience in a very calm and peaceful environment,” Price notes.
This approach has yielded beautiful moments of connection. Price shares one particularly moving encounter: “I was able to sit down with him and give him the presentation of the Good Shepherd. He was able to sit through the whole presentation, which was truly miraculous! The story intrigued him, and it led us to wonder together about who the Good Shepherd was. He even told me himself that it was Jesus. In that moment, this little guy was able to lock eyes and take in the truth of how loved he was by Jesus first and foremost and also by the Church.”
Some dioceses now offer adaptive curriculum kits for families without access to specialized programs. These kits help parents, catechists, and priests prepare children for First Holy Communion and Confirmation, ensuring autistic Catholics can fully participate in the sacraments in ways that work best for them.
The Gift of Autism in the Church
Fr. Schneider points out that accommodating autism isn’t just about charity—it’s about recognizing the gifts that autistic Catholics bring to the Body of Christ.
“Being authentically autistic is mission work,” he notes, quoting advocate Aimee O’Connell (more of her work can be found with Autism Consecration in the related resources at the end of the article). Indeed, many parish leaders report that the directness, honesty, and unique perspective of autistic members enrich the entire community.
Price observes this special openness to grace: “When working with individuals with Special Needs I’ve noticed the blocks aren’t there, so the grace is free to flow and they desire it and are so open to receiving it… You tell them that Jesus is in the Eucharist and they believe—no questions—they accept Christ for who He says he is and who He truly is.”
Building Communion Through Community
These ministries are about far more than accommodation—they’re about building authentic relationships. Many dioceses now offer family formation gatherings, providing opportunities for the entire family to connect with others sharing similar journeys.
As Price explains, “This year, we started monthly family formation. We meet once a month and split into three groups. The youngest members and their siblings are welcome to do presentations of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. The young adults do bible study, and the parents meet for fellowship.”
These gatherings address what Fr. Schneider calls the “double-empathy problem”—research shows that “autistics and non-autistics fail to read the other’s emotions, but both groups are able to read the emotions of those within their group.” Creating opportunities for autistic Catholics to connect allows friendships to form that might not otherwise develop.
The Journey Forward
Despite these encouraging developments, challenges remain. Many families still feel unwelcome or misunderstood in their parishes. Price acknowledges this reality: “A lot of times our families who have a child with a disability have been told no or treated unkindly or ignored so they hide… On behalf of anyone who works for the Church, please forgive us for not reaching out and loving like Christ taught us. You are wanted here, and you belong in the Catholic Church.”
The work of inclusion is ongoing, requiring what Fr. Schneider describes as a movement from “Aversion to Awareness to Accommodation and finally to Apostolate.”
As we continue this journey with our two sons on the spectrum, I’m reminded of Churchill’s words: “I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught.” Their autism has humbled me, revealing both the harm in labeling people and the beauty of embracing the full spectrum of humanity as God created it.
Each parish’s path to inclusion will look different, but it starts with recognizing that every baptized person belongs fully to the Body of Christ. In this work, we don’t just accommodate autism—we discover how it deepens our understanding of the faith.
For parishes interested in creating sensory-friendly liturgies, Fr. Matthew Schneider maintains a directory at www.frmatthewlc.com.
Related Resources For Catholics With Autism:
God Loves the Autistic Mind: Prayer Guide for Those on the Spectrum and Those Who Love Us
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