Caring for Autistic Youth in Your Ministry

This course equips church and youth ministry leaders to create welcoming, inclusive environments where autistic youth can participate, connect, and grow in community. Participants will develop a greater understanding of autism and explore how differences in communication, sensory processing, routines, and social interaction may affect a young person’s experience in church and youth ministry. Through practical strategies and real-world ministry examples, leaders will learn how to provide appropriate accommodations, communicate more effectively, recognize signs of sensory overwhelm, and build meaningful relationships with autistic youth and their families.  

Session 1: Understanding Autism - Seeing the Individual (Lindsey Sneed)

Session 2: Understanding Sensory Needs (Lindsey Sneed)

Session 3: Communication Strategies that Build Connection (Lindsey Sneed)

NOTE: If you're the lead youth worker, family pastor, CE director, senior pastor (basically, anyone overseeing youth ministry) you might want to check out our All Access, which gives you access to all courses, including 101-401, and covers the license agreement so your volunteers can receive on-demand training throughout the year.

Dr. Lindsey Sneed has been working in the field of behavioral health treatment, specifically supporting autistic individuals and people with other developmental disabilities, for almost 20 years and has been with Catalight for over a decade.