Jared Stewart, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with autism, said the Church’s decision to create ward and stake disability specialists is “the most important step it has ever taken to try to address the needs of members with physical, mental or neurological differences.”
Although the calling was added to the Church’s General Handbook in 2010, only 4% of wards and 14% of stakes currently have a designated specialist, according to Katie Edna Steed, the Church’s disability specialist manager. Steed added that the United States census found that approximately 1 in 5 people in the U.S. live with a disability, and the World Health Organization reports a similar number worldwide.
“Disability is a part of the human experience, and it’s not something we have to hide,” Steed said on a Church News podcast episode. “It’s not something that is taboo. It’s just a matter of the human, mortal experience, and we can embrace and support.”