We are deeply concerned by a recent LifeWise Academy promotional post that publicly identified a child as being on the autism spectrum and used her disability-related traits as part of a religious testimonial.
In the post, LifeWise describes an autistic student—referred to as a “sweet girl on the autism spectrum”—and highlights that she “doesn’t usually like hugs,” is sometimes “hard to read,” and “doesn’t usually show it.” These autism-related differences were presented as something LifeWise was able to “reach” or “break through,” and the child’s sensory boundaries were framed as spiritual obstacles.
Children with disabilities, including autistic children, deserve dignity, privacy, and understanding. Autism-related behaviors—such as sensory sensitivities or differences in communication—are not spiritual barriers, emotional shortcomings, or signs of moral deficiency. They are natural expressions of neurodiversity, not problems to be overcome.
Publicly using a child’s disability to promote a religious program is inappropriate and reinforces harmful stereotypes about autistic students and students with disabilities more broadly. Statements such as “not easy to reach” or “hard to read” reflect outdated and inaccurate assumptions that have long contributed to stigma, misunderstanding, and mistreatment of neurodivergent youth.
This kind of messaging also raises disability-rights concerns for public schools connected to LifeWise programs. Under the ADA and Section 504, schools must ensure that disability is never framed through a lens of spiritual judgment or interpreted as a behavioral or moral failure. Students with disabilities are entitled to supports, accommodations, and environments that respect their boundaries and their neurotype—not environments that treat their disability as evidence of religious transformation.
Children with disabilities and autistic children do not need religious programs to “fix” or reinterpret who they are. They need inclusive, supportive public schools that understand disability, protect student rights, and honor every child’s dignity.
— Secular Education Association
Protecting every child’s right to a truly inclusive public education.
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What people are saying:
- Secular Education Association: This post publicly uses an autistic student’s disability traits as marketing — and frames her sensory boundaries as something LifeWise “overcame.”
Autism is not a spiritual barrier. Sensory needs are not moral issues. Children with disabilities deserve dignity and privacy, not to be portrayed as “hard to reach” props for religious promotion.
Tagging disability and education experts for visibility:
Facebook User Facebook User Facebook User Facebook User Facebook User
— Secular Education Association - Facebook User: My son is level 3, non-verbal…
Just based on my involvement with different autism parenting circles, there are legitimately parents out there that believe religious intervention is an acceptable answer to the challenges neurodivergent folks face.
To me, it’s infuriating and diminishes the importance of adequate support, funding and education.
Whether it’s from lack of awareness or just blind faith, I don’t doubt that this child’s parent’s are regrettably complicit in these photos and messages.
It creates a very messy and hostile environment for those of us that choose science over alternative methodology.
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