Spotlight Session: Neurodiversity and Children
Practical, biblically-grounded insight into welcoming neurodivergent children and their families in your church community.
with Kate Morris
Monday, 12 October 2026 | 7:00PM - 8:30PM
Online, Recording & In-person at ADM
Standard $25 | Concession $15
Christians aren’t meant to do life alone.
We’re made for honest conversations that relieve our burdens,
not add to them.
“I want these children and families to feel they belong, but I don’t always know what support looks like in practice.”
For many neurodivergent children and their families, church can be a place of longing. They want to grow in faith alongside a community that knows and loves them, but sensory overwhelm, unpredictable changes to routine, and social expectations can make participation genuinely hard. If you serve children or youth in your church, you're likely aware that some children and families face challenges. You’ve also likely asked some version of this question: what would actually help the neurodivergent children and families we love in our church?
“Seeing mental health issues spoken of with such compassion, respect and in a well-considered professional way gives me great hope for the future of Christian communities dealing with these issues.”
What people say
What is a Spotlight Session?
Spotlight Sessions are run by ADM’s Mental Health Institute (MHI). In each session we hear from a speaker who brings together biblical reflection, current research, and practical wisdom to help churches respond well to real pastoral needs, together with a person who shares their lived experience.
This session focuses on neurodivergence in children and youth, and how churches and ministries can respond thoughtfully, with wisdom and care.
About Kate
Kate Morris is a writer, speaker, podcaster, and Honorary Research Fellow at Mary Andrews College. She brings both academic expertise and lived experience as a mother of neurodivergent children, along with a background in gifted education, biblical studies, and autism and neurodivergent studies.
A neurodivergent guest speaker will also share his lived experience as a father of neurodivergent children, who has spent a lot of time navigating what church means for their family. He has also served as a children and youth minister and spent considerable time helping Neurodivergent kids and their families with their church experience.
A clearer understanding of why church can be hard for neurodivergent children and their families
Practical insight into sensory processing, regulation, and communication, and how each shapes a child's ability to participate
A framework for thinking through the individual needs of the children in your care, rather than a one-size-fits-all checklist
Ideas you can apply to your church's ministries and programs.
A renewed sense of how your ministry can reflect the truth that every child belongs and is deeply valued in the body of Christ
What you’ll leave with
Who this conversation is for
Sunday School teachers, Kids and Youth pastors, youth group leaders, kids' club volunteers, and anyone serving children or youth in their church community. It's also for anyone who wants to help to help build a culture of welcome in their church.
About the Mental Health Institute
We are ADM’s Mental Health Institute. Founded in 2016 by Sarah and Rev. Dr Keith Condie, the Institute exists to help Christian believers and church leaders better understand mental health and care for others effectively.
Each month, our Spotlight sessions bring together mental health insight, Christian reflection and lived experience to address different mental health challenges from a Christian perspective.
We hope you’ll join us as we explore how Christian faith and good psychological science equip us to live well in the midst of life’s challenges and care for others with wisdom, compassion and hope.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Not at all. This session is designed for Sunday School teachers, Kids and Youth pastors, youth group leaders, kids' club volunteers, and anyone serving children or youth in their church community — whether or not you currently have neurodivergent children in your ministry.
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That's exactly who this session is for. You don't need prior training or experience — Kate will take us through general principles and practical starting points that any ministry team can begin applying.
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Yes. This session is also for anyone who cares about their church becoming more understanding and supportive of neurodivergent people and their families, regardless of your specific role.
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Not exactly — and that's intentional. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, this session will help you notice the particular needs of the children and families you know and apply practical principles to your own church context.
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No problem — You can purchase access to the recording, rather than in-person or online access, so you can watch it in your own time. The recording is available approximately 4 days after the event.
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Concession pricing ($15) is available for students, retirees, those under 30, and those experiencing financial hardship. Standard pricing is $25.
If you’d like to set up a watch party for your church or small group, we also have tickets available for Group Livestream (10+ Attendees) and Group Recording Access (10+ Attendees) .
More about us
The Mental Health Institute is a ministry of Anglican Deaconess Ministries, based in Sydney, Australia.
We provide online and in-person resources that assist those in ministry to understand mental health from a Christian perspective and guide them on how to provide support to those in their congregations and communities who are experiencing mental health challenges.
We also want to assist everyday Christians to better understand mental health. You may be facing a mental health challenge, or you may be supporting someone experiencing mental ill-health. Our hope and prayer is that you will find resources here that will help you.
