Autism Hour – Get your mosque involved!
On Sunday 16 of June 2019, Finsbury Park Mosque hosted the first ever Autism Hour held at a mosque in the UK. This pioneering initiative was conceived by sister Sara Mangera, Disability Consultant for the MCB and a mother to two autistic boys, in conjunction with the National Autistic Society and supported by the MCB.
Visiting the mosque is an integral part of a Muslim’s life but for autistic Muslims, it is often a difficult and anxiety-filled experience with too many bright lights, packed and crowded halls, loud announcements and aadhan (call to prayer), but simple measures can make your mosque more accessible.
The MCB is encouraging mosques to hold an own Autism Hour on Sunday 6 October 2019, as part of national Autism Hour Week. Interested to take part? Get in touch now by emailing campaigns@mcb.org.uk
Sara Mangera, MCB Disabilities Campaign Lead, said, “This is a fantastic initiative which will enable autistic persons of all faiths and none to access mosques facilitating inclusivity while at the same time increasing the awareness of autism within Muslim communities”
A list of mosques taking part on 6 October 2019 are:
- Shahjahan Mosque (Woking, Surrey)
- Purley Mosque (Surrey)
- Birmingham Central Mosque
- Al Falah Mosque (Birmingham)
- Masjid Ibrahim (Barking, London)
- Sri Lankan Muslim Cultural Centre Harrow (London)
- Finsbury Park Mosque (London)
- Dunfermline Central Mosque (Scotland)
- Wembley Central Masjid (London)
- Muslim Association of Nigera (Old Kent Road Mosque) (London)
Additional mosques that took part on later dates in October/November 2019 are:
- Darul Ummah Jame Masjid (London)
- Hockwell Ring Masjid (Luton)
For further information, email campaigns@mcb.org.uk