South Asian Muslim Immigrant Religious Beliefs & Autism

Jegatheesan, B., Miller, P. J., & Fowler, S. A. (2010). Autism from a Religious Perspective: A Study of Parental Beliefs in South Asian Muslim Immigrant Families. Focus On Autism And Other Developmental Disabilities, 25(2), 98-109.

Islam views of disability. Like individuals of the LDS faith, Muslim parents have expressed a feeling of gratitude when responding to questions about having a child with a disability, autism specifically.  They believe that Allah, their god, sent the child with special abilities and needs to their family.  According to these parents, Allah selected them based on their “moral character, loving nature, and resilience; their ability to protect the child; and their fate or Karmic connection to the child” (Jegatheesan, Miller, & Fowler, 2010, p. 101).  The parents of the Muslim faith felt honored to be the parents of a child with special needs

Religiousity & Autism

Ekas, N.V., Whitman, T.L., Shivers, C. Religiosity, spirituality, and socioemotional functioning in mothers of children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 706-719. doi: 10.1007/s10803-008-0673-4

Again, it is important to consider the positive outcomes associated with the way people can better cope and find meaning when working with people with disabilities as a result of religion.  In a study of mothers of children with autism and spirituality and religiosity, mothers were found to have greater “life satisfaction, life enjoyment, positive affect, self-esteem, overall well-being, optimism and locus of control” (Ekas, Whitman, & Shivers, 2008. p. 7).  Religion positively affects parents of children with autism.  This is true of a study conducted in the United States, how is it at Karuna Home in India?