Scholarship Database

Research and scholarship at the intersection of disability, religion, and inclusive spiritual supports is often scattered across diverse fields and hidden in myriad databases. We will compile and maintain a searchable database of articles addressing these topics organized around our core framework. An avenue for submitting new articles to the database will be available. This database will become an invaluable resource for scholars doing research and writing on this issue. New articles will be featured.

Search available articles:

Post-Traumatic Growth in Mothers of Children with Autism: A Phenomenological Study

Author(s): Wei Zhang, Ting Ting Yan, Louise K. Barriball, Alison E. While & Hong Xiao


A Comparison of Self-Acceptance of Disability between Thai Buddhist and American Christians

Author(s): Roy K Chen, Alicia D. Brown & Wilaiporn Kotbungkair


Representations of Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the North American Roman Catholic Print Media, 1990–2013

Author(s): Dana Sawchuk & Juanne Clarke


A Wrinkle in the Fold: Inclusion of People with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Faith Communities

Author(s): Katie Terry


Quakers and Disability: Theory and Practice in the 19th Century

Author(s): Timothy Lillie


Reflections on Law in Light of Everyday Life at L’Arche

Author(s): Thomas McMorrow


Moving from the Implicit to the Explicit: ‘Spiritual Rights’ and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Author(s): Russell Whiting, Sándor Gurbai


The Role of the Chaplain in the Interdisciplinary Care of the Rehabilitation Patient

Author(s): Marianne C. Sailus


“Shun not the struggle”: The Language and Culture of Deaf Catholics in the U.S., 1949–1977

Author(s): Marlana Portolano


Children’s spirituality and inclusion: strengthening a child’s spirit with community, resilience and joy

Author(s): Kathleen I. Harris


Intellectual disability and faith communities: perspectives of Catholic religious leaders

Author(s): Mazna Patka & Katherine E. McDonald


Spiritual Experiences, Personal Commitment: Relationship With Work Stress Among Support Staff for Children with Disabilities in Oman

Author(s): Mahmoud Emam & Suaad Al-Lawati


Disability and Theological Education: A North American Study

Author(s): Naomi Annandale & Erik W. Carter


Conversations with God: Prayer and Bargaining in Adjustment to Disability

Author(s): Valerie J. Rodriguez, Noreen M Glover-Graf, E. Lisette Blanco


Attitudes of Able-Bodied People Toward Clergy with Impairments: A Photo Elicitation

Author(s): James R. Brennan & Debra Rutledge


BeFrienders: Impact of a Social Ministry Program on Relationships for Individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD)

Author(s): Angela Novak Amado, Christina Boice, Megan Degrande & Shannon Hutcheson


Religion and Disability: The Experiences of Families of Children with Special Needs

Author(s): Elizabeth E. O'Hanlon


Disability Focus Groups: A Strategy for Including People with Disability in Parishes

Author(s): Rea Dennis & Trish Murdoch


Supporting inclusion and flourishing in the religious and spiritual lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Author(s): Erik W. Carter


Factors associated with participation in faith communities for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Author(s): Melinda J. Ault, Belva C. Collins & Erik W. Carter


Congregational participation and supports for children and adults with disabilities: Parent perceptions

Author(s): Melinda J. Ault, Belva C. Collins & Erik W. Carter


Accessible Congregations Campaign: Follow-Up Survey of Impact on Individuals With Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD)

Author(s): Angela Novak Amado, Megan Degrande, Christina Boice & Shannon Hutcheson


Spiritual Wellness as a Protective Factor in Predicting Depression Among Mothers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Author(s): Arjan Graybill & Giselle Esquivel


Characteristics of Inclusive Faith Communities: A Preliminary Survey of Inclusive Practices in the United States

Author(s): Megan M. Griffin, Lydia W. Kane, Courtney Taylor, Susan H. Francis & Robert M. Hodapp


Intellectual Disability and Spiritual Development

Author(s): Graeme Watts


Personality Dimensions, Religious Tendencies and Coping Strategies as Predictors of General Health in Iranian Mothers of Children With Intellectual Disability: A Comparison With Mothers of Typically Developing Children

Author(s): Y. R. Mirsaleh, H. Rezai , M. Khabaz, I. Afkhami Ardekanià and K. Abdi


After the benediction: Walking alongside people with significant disabilities and their families in faith and life

Author(s): Erik W. Carter


Autism From a Religious Perspective: A Study of Parental Beliefs in South Asian Muslim Immigrant Families

Author(s): Brinda Jegatheesan, Peggy J. Miller & Susan A. Fowler


Spirituality and Disabilities: Implications for Special Education

Author(s): Kaili C. Zhang


Why Individuals with Intellectual Disability Turn to Religion: Behavioral and Psychological Motives of Adolescents and Adult

Author(s): Hefziba Lifshitz, Izhak Weiss, Sara Fridel, and Rivka Glaubman


The Influence of Religiosity on Well-Being and Acceptance in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Author(s): Stacy E. White


Religiosity, Spirituality, and Socioemotional Functioning in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Author(s): Naomi V. Ekas, Thomas L. Whitman & Carolyn Shivers


Involvement of Adolescents With Intellectual Disabilities in Social and Recreational Activities

Author(s): Dara Abells, Julia Burbridge & Patricia Minnes


Social Challenges and Supports from the Perspective of Individuals with Asperger Syndrome and Other Autism Spectrum Disabilities

Author(s): Eve Muller, Adriana Schuler & Gregory B. Yates


Attitudes and Emotions of Orthodox Jews Who Have Siblings with Disabilities: Religious Correlates and Social Context

Author(s): Shulamis Juni Pollak


Religious Attitude and Happiness Among Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities

Author(s): Rick Biesinger & Hiroko Arikawa


Outcomes for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: What is Important and Likely According to Teachers?

Author(s): Julie K. Ivey


Integrating Faith and Treatment for Children with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders

Author(s): Cara Marker, Magdalena Weeks & Irene Kraegel


Including Students With Moderate and Severe Intellectual Disabilities in School Extracurricular and Community Recreation Activities

Author(s): Harold L. Kleinert, Sally Miracle, & Kathy Sheppard-Jones


Causal Attributions and Parental Attitudes Toward Children With Disabilities in the United States and Pakistan

Author(s): Ambrin F. Masood, Lisa A. Turner, Abigail Baxter


A Survey Comparing Special Education Services for Students with Disabilities in Rural Faith-Based and Public School Settings

Author(s): Rick Eigenbrood


Spirituality: A Coping Mechanism in the Lives of Adults With Congenital Disabilities

Author(s): Jacqueline A. Specht, Gillian A. King, Colleen Willoughby, Elizabeth G. Brown, and Linda Smith


Mother and Soldier: Raising a Child With a Disability in a Low-Income Military Family

Author(s): Nancy E. Taylor, Shavaun M. Wall, Harriet Liebow, Christine A. Sabatino, Elizabeth M. Timberlake, Michaela Z. Farber


Religion and Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities: An Exploratory Study of Self-Reported Perspectives

Author(s): Karrie A. Shogren & Mark S. Rye


Community Access: A Survey of Congregational Accessibility for People with Disabilities

Author(s): Michelle LaRocque & Rick Eigenbrook


Self-Esteem and Willingness to Help People With and Without Disabilities Among Young Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Women

Author(s): Liora Findler, Orit Taubman-Ben-Ari & Shirley Ben-Schlomo


Peer Relationships and Social and Recreational Activities Among Adolescents and Adults with Autism

Author(s): Gael I. Orsmond, Marty Wyngaarden Kruass, and Marsha Mailick Seltzer


Religious Expression Amongst Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Author(s): Susannah Turner, Chris Hatton, Robina Shah, Julie Stansfield and Nabela Rahim


Role of Spirituality and Religion in Family Quality of Life for Families of Children with Disabilities

Author(s): Denise J. Poston & Ann P. Turnbull


Significance of a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Ceremony for Parents of Jewish Children With Developmental Disabilities

Author(s): Gila Vogel and Shunit Reiter


Participation in Religious Services by People With Developmental Disabilities

Author(s): Carol A. Minton & Richard A. Dodder


“This Is a Spiritual Experience”: Perspectives of Latter-Day Saint Families Living With a Child With Disabilities

Author(s): Elaine Sorensen Marshall, Susanne Frost Olsen, Barbara L. Mandleco, Tina Taylor Dyches, Keith W. Allred & nancy Sansom


Spiritual Dimensions of Bar/bat Mitzvah Ceremonies for Jewish Children with Developmental Disabilities

Author(s): Gila Vogel and Shunit Reiter


Positive Impact of Children with Developmental Disabilities on Their Families: A Preliminary Study

Author(s): Helen M. Taunt & Richard P. Hastings


Family Coping in Families with a Child with a Disability

Author(s): Daniel C. Lustig


“We Can’t Expect Other People to Understand”: Family Perspectives on Problem Behavior

Author(s): Lise Fox, Bobbie J. Vaughn, Merili Llanes Wyatte, Glen Dunlap


The Effects of Religious Coping on Caregiving Appraisals of Mothers of Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Author(s): Helen B. Miltiades & Rachel Pruchno


Involved Fathering of Children with Special Needs

Author(s): Michael M. Olson, David C. Dollahite & Mark B. White


Disability, Spiritual Beliefs and the Church: The Experiences of Adults with Disabilities and Family Members

Author(s): Linda L. Treloar


Teaching Jewish Mentally-Retarded Youngsters Holiday Awareness Through Symbols

Author(s): Varda Carmeli & Eli Carmeli


Spiritual Health in Residential Centers for Persons with Intellectual Disability in Israel: A National Survey

Author(s): Joav Merrick, Mohammed Morad & Udi Levi


Role of Religion in the Lives of Latino Families of Young Children with Developmental Delays

Author(s): Debra G. Skinner, Vivian Correa, Martie Skinner & Donald B. Bailey, Jr.


Examining the Beliefs of Involved Adults Concerning the Moral and Religious Development of Individuals with Mental Retardation

Author(s): Randel D. Brown


God Won’t Put More on You than You Can Bear: Faith as a Coping Strategy Among Older African American Caregiving Parents of Adult Children with Disabilities

Author(s): Sharon V. King


Disability and Spirituality: A Reciprocal Relationship with Implications for the Rehabilitation Process

Author(s): Boni B. Boswell, Sharon Knight & Michael Hamer


Religious Coping in Families of Children with Autism

Author(s): Nalini Tarakeshwar & Kenneth I. Pargament


Supporting Religion and Spirituality to Enhance Quality of Life of People With Intellectual Disability: A Jewish Perspective

Author(s): Stephen Glicksman


Church Attendance of Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Author(s): Jeff McNair & Heather Kathleen Smith


Coping and Adaptation in Families of Children with Cerebral Palsy

Author(s): Shu-Li Lin


Qualitative Analysis of Latino Parents’ Religious Interpretations of Their Child’s Disability

Author(s): Debra Skinner, Patricia Rodriguez & Donald B. Bailey, Jr.


Narrating Self and Disability: Latino Mothers’ Construction of Identities vis-à-vis Their Child with Special Needs

Author(s): Debra Skinner, Donald B. Bailey, Jr., Vivian Correa & Patricia Rodriguez


In God We Trust? Organized Religion and Personal Beliefs as Resources and Coping Strategies, and Their Implications for Health in Parents with a Child on the Autistic Spectrum

Author(s): Patricia Coulthard & Michael Fitzgerald


Religious Connectedness Among Urban African American Families Who Have a Child with Disabilities

Author(s): Jeannette Rogers-Dulan


Local Church Support to Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

Author(s): Jeff McNair & Stanley L. Swartz


Family Perspectives on Inclusive Lifestyle Issues for People with Problem Behavior

Author(s): Ann P. Turnbull and Mike Ruef


School-Based Wraparound Planning: Integrating Services for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Needs

Author(s): Lucille Eber & C. Michael Nelson


Measuring Religiousness of Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities

Author(s): Allisen M. Haworth, Amy E. Hill, Laraine Masters Glidden