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If you have autism, or your friend or loved one does, you know attending church can be a struggle. Research shows the odds of an autistic child never attending a religious service are nearly twice as high as the odds of a non-autistic child.
One church in New Jersey is on a mission to make it easier for people with autism and their families to make it to Mass. St. Joseph’s Church in Maplewood has become the first NYC-area church with a dedicated sensory room for neurodivergent parishioners. The room serves individuals with autism, ADHD, and sensory processing differences.
Sean Quinn of the Archdiocese of Newark told Aleteia:
Percy Losardo never used to attend Mass. The 14-year-old with autism struggled to sit still in the pews, which led him to staying home when the rest of his family went to church. But then his parish, St. Joseph Church in Maplewood, became the first NYC-area church to create a calming sensory room for neurodivergent parishioners. Now Percy eagerly goes to Mass every week – and he’s not the only one.
Thanks to the Still Waters Sensory Room, multiple people with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and similar conditions are feeling comfortable enough to visit St. Joe’s each Sunday because they know they have a refuge they can escape to if they ever feel a sensory overload.
The room is filled with tools to soothe people’s senses, including a rocker, weighted blankets, and stim toys. It sends a big message: Everyone is truly welcome at St. Joe’s.
Building an accessible space
The idea for a parish sensory room came about when pastor Fr. Jim Worth attended a community Zoom meeting hosted by Together We Bloom, a disability justice nonprofit with a mission to empower young children with disabilities through equitable access to connection, communication, and community.
He reached out to parishioner Kimberly Takacs, Together We Bloom’s executive director, and they decided to transform an old confessional room into the Still Waters Sensory Room.
“During the Mass, we do not consider it a crying room, but rather a respite from overstimulation,” Worth said, “from the music, the crowds, the smells and the bells. I have witnessed people going in for a short time and then coming back to the main assembly. Our goal is to make everyone feel like they belong. It’s not just about inclusion, it’s about belonging.”
And it’s not just used during Mass. “Our church is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. I know community members have stopped in to seek some calm if their child or young adult with autism needs a break from the noisy world,” Worth said.
Worth encouraged other parishes to look into designing a similar space:
I know that many churches have a small room that can easily be transformed into a sensory room. We paid around $1,500 and received donations for it, as well.
The most important thing is to remember and exercise loving acceptance and patience with all parishioners. Many suffer from hidden difficulties that can prevent them from attending Mass. It’s my ardent desire to help them feel like they belong here as much as everyone else.
Courtesy of Sean Quinn of the Diocese of Newark
How to design a sensory room
Kimberly Takacs is a parishioner at St. Joseph’s and the executive director of Together We Bloom. She explained to Aleteia how the room was designed:
When adding accommodations, it’s vital to center the experiences and needs of disabled and neurodivergent people. The room was designed by the chair of the Board of Directors of Together We Bloom, Janelle Gera, who is AuDHD (Autistic and ADHD) and someone who benefits personally from this type of sensory accommodation.
She was unbelievably thoughtful and intentional in how she designed the space; a lot of compassion and care went into its creation. She had an incredible vision for a space that was calming to the senses, with a monochromatic, rich dark blue palette that complements the stained glass and feels like a peaceful refuge.
Janelle and I selected a variety of sensory tools like a weighted lap blanket, low lighting, fidget toys, and headphones, offering a thoughtfully curated space for calm and sensory regulation for both children and adults.
The room helps many families, Takacs said, but more importantly, it helps the entire Church community and beyond:
We’ve heard many stories from folks who feel seen by having an accommodation like this for themselves or a family member, and others who feel comfortable bringing their disabled child to Mass for the first time because they know they’re not just welcome here but that they truly belong.
But the impact of the space extends to our whole community. This is an opportunity for all of us to live out our call to justice and Catholic Social Teaching. This is not about “doing a nice thing” — this is about solidarity and equity. Our entire community is strengthened by having an accommodation that allows for full participation of every person in our diverse community. All of us benefit when everyone belongs.
Beyond just St. Joe’s, we’ve even heard how the creation of the sensory room has touched people who are not parishioners — people who haven’t brought children to any religious space because they weren’t sure if their child could handle the sensory experience and crowds of Mass. They are deeply moved to know that this is even an option for an accommodation at a place of worship.
Thinking about designing a similar space at your church? Feel free to reach out to Takacs and Together We Bloom. This kind of accommodation can make all the difference to help families with an autistic child join in worship at Mass.
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