Reviews - walking in the shoes of spectrums: making visiting the mosque easier for those on the autistic spectrum

Isolation can be debilitating for sociable people but for at least 67 million people who suffer from autism worldwide, that isolation can become a lifelong issue. One in every 88 children is estimated to suffer from some degree of autism and the society is trying to improve the understanding of the disorder among the general public, who often think such children are simply naughty or misbehaving. Therefore, to avoid negative perceptions from the public, most Muslim parents will not bring their autistic children to the mosque. However, visiting the mosque is an important part of the lives of Muslims. The mosque is not only a place to pray in congregation, but to learn, partake in community activities, seek help, and connect with other Muslims. Unfortunately, visiting the mosque can be very difficult for people with the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. Some families have even stopped going to the mosque as it has become too difficult to do so.