Originally published 13.10.19; presented as part of Thinking Differently conference.
Neurodiversity is the diversity of human brains - it’s a biological fact. Humans are not all the same in many other ways - like our skin colour, hair colour, interests, strengths and talents. How we process the world is another way in which we differ. The sort of brains that would be considered as ‘neurodivergent’ include for example:- autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, dyspraxic, Tourettes.
Ways in which we might process the world differently include - our sensory experiences, processing times and how we communicate. Some examples of this include that we might struggle to access Written materials because they’re cluttered, too small or don’t make sense to us. We don’t know or don’t understand what’s expected, or what’s acceptable according to ‘normative’ standards. And there’s the mystery that is reading body language or neurotypical social cues… All these might be easy for you, but for us it’s like being in a foreign country where we can never learn the language.
Neurodiversity is the diversity of human brains - it’s a biological fact. Humans are not all the same in many other ways - like our skin colour, hair colour, interests, strengths and talents. How we process the world is another way in which we differ. The sort of brains that would be considered as ‘neurodivergent’ include for example:- autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, dyspraxic, Tourettes.
Ways in which we might process the world differently include - our sensory experiences, processing times and how we communicate. Some examples of this include that we might struggle to access Written materials because they’re cluttered, too small or don’t make sense to us. We don’t know or don’t understand what’s expected, or what’s acceptable according to ‘normative’ standards. And there’s the mystery that is reading body language or neurotypical social cues… All these might be easy for you, but for us it’s like being in a foreign country where we can never learn the language.
We’re blamed for being different, as though thinking differently is a choice.
This weekend can be seen as part of the neurodiversity movement. This is a social justice movement working for equality, inclusion and respect, including in the church in this case.
This weekend can be seen as part of the neurodiversity movement. This is a social justice movement working for equality, inclusion and respect, including in the church in this case.
This weekend is needed on many levels. It’s needed for the neurodivergent people in our churches - it’s needed for those who have been hurt, misunderstood and/or excluded by churches and church communities in them in the past. Historically, churches have not been accessible to neurodivergent people: whether through worship groups who will not turn their music down, or overloading welcomes, through hurtful preaching that tells people they need to be cured, to become “normal” to be acceptable in the eyes of churches - and of God.. It’s needed by churches so they can hear the voices of these perhaps hidden marginalised, to stand with them as Jesus did. Often we, as neurodivergent people, won’t have the energy or the words to say how something is not inclusive or accessible. So if we are hurt or have a negative experience, we just don’t come back to that church.
For inclusion to go beyond the surface and short term, we need to have meaningful conversations.. My own story is one smattered with misunderstandings, hurt and tears. But for the last 3 years I’ve been working in my own context, to try to make a difference and to get people to think differently . But as a colleague said at Kent Autistic Pride last month, ‘the story remains the same with different contexts’. It’s time to change, to learn and to turn the tables on what church is and how it is accessible.
For inclusion to go beyond the surface and short term, we need to have meaningful conversations.. My own story is one smattered with misunderstandings, hurt and tears. But for the last 3 years I’ve been working in my own context, to try to make a difference and to get people to think differently . But as a colleague said at Kent Autistic Pride last month, ‘the story remains the same with different contexts’. It’s time to change, to learn and to turn the tables on what church is and how it is accessible.
