Congregational Participation and Supports for Children and Adults with Disabilities: Parent Perceptions

Abstract

Although religion and spirituality have received relatively limited attention in the literature addressing people with disabilities, each is strongly associated with a host of positive outcomes, including enhanced quality of life. One way to participate in religious activities and enhance spirituality is to participate in a faith community. In this article, we report findings from a survey of 416 parents exploring the ways in which they and their children with disabilities participated in their congregations and examining factors associated with participation and inclusion in those communities. Consistent with findings from general social surveys, the majority of parents indicated their faith was important to them and many-along with their sons or daughters with disabilities-participated in congregational activities. Although parents reported their sons and daughters with disabilities participated in somewhat fewer types of activities than they did, this involvement occurred most often in activities involving peers without disabilities. However, parents generally were not satisfied with the level of supports provided by faith communities, and they highly valued a welcoming and supportive attitude by the community. We discuss implications for extending inclusive efforts into congregational contexts and suggest future research directions.

Parental perceptions of hypothermia treatment for neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy

“…These could be related to natural tendency to reduce or avoid inner conflict. [25] Related sentiments (in form of 'rebirth' following rewarming with baby appearing more 'life like') have been described by Nassef [11] and religion and spirituality have been strongly associated with a host of positive outcomes, including enhanced quality of life. [25] …”

A Qualitative Analysis of the Experiences of Minority Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…This may provide helpful coping strategies for family members, particularly in Black and Hispanic families. Parents of children with disabilities point out that their faith is significant to them and their family share in the activities of the congregation (Ault et al 2013) often leading to positive results for mothers of children with ASD (Ekas et al 2009).…”

Including Individuals with Disabilities in a Faith Community: A Framework and Example

“…However, despite individuals with disabilities and their families indicating that expression of faith and spirituality is meaningful and important to them (Ault et al, 2013a: Shogren & Rye, 2005Turner et al, 2004), faith commu nities have been slower to develop fully inclusive models of involvement, and less research has focused on studying inclusive participation (Howell & Pierson, 2010) compared with the other domains of life (Carter et al, 2012). This lack of attention may have occurred because of an attitude related to the separation of church and state and a fear of inappropriate proselytization (Carter, 2013;McNair, 2000).…”

“…Families and persons with developmental dis abilities have reported varying levels of satisfaction with their experiences in their faith communities, and some communities have struggled to pro vide supportive and welcoming experiences and felt challenged to meet the spiritual needs of the children and their families (Ault et al, 2013a;Jacober, 2007;Poston & Turnbull, 2004;Speraw, 2006). While some faith communities continue to offer segregated programming (i.e., separate religious education classes, small groups made up of individuals with disabilities, special needs ministries; Vogel & Reiter, 2003;Poston & Turnbull, 2004), others are moving toward fully inclusive models (Buchwald, 2006;Collins & Ault, 2010) finding benefits not only for the persons with disabilities, but for the communities of faith who are blessed by their presence and gifts (Ault et al, 2013b;Buchwald, 2006;Gaventa, 2011;Vogel, Polloway, & Smith, 2006).…”

“…Parents indicated that they believed their children had a spiritual connection to God, that faith com munities mostly devalued or did not recognize that connection, that parents usually ended up teaching their children on their own, and that the par ents themselves were dramatically impacted by the response of their faith community to their child. Ault et al (2013a) surveyed 416 parents of sons 3 and daughters with disabilities. The authors found that 55.8% of the families had kept their child from participating in a religious activity because support was not provided, 46.6% had refrained from participating in religious activity because their child was not welcomed, and 32.3% had changed their place of worship because their child was not included or welcomed.…”