June 9, 2026 | 7:00-8:30 pm | Bethlehem Lutheran Church and on Zoom. Join meeting HERE.
Description
How inclusive are our faith communities for those whose brains work differently than the “norm.” We are called upon by our faith to love and care for others, but that can be challenging if we don’t understand what might be behind certain behaviors that fall outside the realm of “normal”. This program is designed to enhance or develop your understanding of what it means to be neurodivergent and how you and others can help to create a more fully welcoming space in your faith community for neurodivergent persons.
Learning Objectives:
Understand what it means to be neurodivergent, the various terms associated with it, and how being neurodivergent can put people at risk for anxiety and depression.
Appreciate the gifts those with different cognitive types and abilities can bring to enrich a faith community when their needs are accommodated.
Explore how congregations can be more inclusive of neurodivergent people in worship through real life examples.
Discuss the concept of “universal design” and make connections on how neuro-inclusive practices can help everyone in a faith community thrive.
Become familiar with the grassroots-led neurodiversity movement and what you can do to improve the lives of others – including neurodivergent persons you care about and/or through a broadened understanding of humanity.
Presenters:
HANNAH CAMPBELL GUSTAFSON, Executive Director, Mental Health Connect and a United Church of Christ (UCC) minister. She holds an MSW degree.
CRAIG SIMENSON, Worshiping Community Program Manager of Gathered: Inclusive Church with Neurodivergent Children (ages 3-12), a project of St. Clement’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul and the Episcopal Church in Minnesota and an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) minister.
Hannah and Craig are spouses and theirs is a proudly neurodivergent home, with two family members who are autistic and one who has ADHD.
One (1) CEU is available for this program for the in-person session only.