For people with autism, walking into a busy church can be a sensory nightmare

Church life can be overwhelming and challenging for autistic people, says Triona Brading. On World Autism Awareness Day, here are some helpful starting points for discussions with the autistic people in your congregation.

I was working with, and supporting autistic people before I ever considered I might be autistic myself. I remember being rather taken aback when it was first suggested to me that I should consider an assessment. Although I had an understanding of autism, I also had many misconceptions and a lack of awareness of how varied the spectrum truly is.

Fast forward eight years, and I find myself using the knowledge I have gained, alongside personal experience to try and support churches in welcoming autistic individuals.