Western society prizes self-possession and self-fulfillment. Whether we like it or not, being liked and “fitting in” go a long way toward producing what is horribly phrased “social capital.” People like people with social capital: celebrities exhibit it, advertisements promote it, workplaces and areas of social encounter value it.

If you exhibit many of the characteristics often associated with autism, chances are that society will lend you less social capital. The very term “autism” comes from the Greek autos (self) and denotes a sense of being self-contained, unable to relate to others well or pick up normative social cues. While research is developing, statistics back up the assumption that autistic people do find the world more difficult to navigate. In the United Kingdom, autistic children are more than twice as likely to be excluded from school than their peers, and more than half do not have access to a quiet space at school or someone to turn to if they need support. Lack of such options impacts parents and caregivers immeasurably.

For parents of neurodiverse children, church can be another hurdle.