anglican focus

The news site of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland: nourishing and connecting our faith community

Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Welcoming and including autistic people in our churches

Two Australian Anglicans – a young woman with autism and the parent of a child with autism – share their stories of inclusion and respect in parishes: “The overwhelming impression I got was that the parish community members were there for the common good rather than for their individual needs. As a result of their experience, both my primary-aged children understand church and want to go to church”

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How to create a safe and welcoming space for autistic people to worship and serve

“As an autistic person, I experience many sensory sensitivities on a daily basis. Difficulties with sensory processing are a common occurrence for autistic people. Every autistic person I’ve met has sensory processing difficulties. And, as a speech pathologist working with autistic clients, I’ve met a lot of autistic people,” says Parish of Freshwater member, Mel Maddox, while offering tips for creating a safe space for autistic people to worship and serve

"I’m currently working in an internship for neurodiversity and access in our Diocese as part of the Equitable Participation Working Group, along with The Rev’d Ann Edwards from St Mark’s, The Gap and Peter Branjerdporn from the Justice Unit" (Tom Hammer pictured with The Rev'd Ann Edwards on 22 August 2021)
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Tips when talking to people with Asperger’s Syndrome

“Like all people with lived experience of ASD1, I have insights that can assist neurotypical people seeking to understand how we see the world and how we can be better engaged. This is important so we can participate more equitably, which is what being part of a Church is all about,” says Gubbi Gubbi descendent and Equitable Participation Working Group member, Tom Hammer

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