Communicating Spirituality: Understanding Prayer and Study Experiences of Those with Cognitive Disabilities Using Natural Language Processing

Religious practice plays a vital role in many lives, yet the experi-ences of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental dis-abilities (IDD) remain understudied. This mixed methods studyexplored spiritual engagement among young adults with IDDliving in a religious hostel and their mentors. Data analysisincluded content coding, word clouds, emotion mapping, andAI-assisted case synthesis. Results show that spiritual practicesoffer structure, emotional support, social connection, and per-sonal growth. While residents and mentors shared overlappingspiritual experiences, each group emphasized different aspects.These findings highlight the value of inclusive religious environ-ments that nurture diverse expressions of faith and belonging.