Special Needs Ministry

November 14, 2019

Special Needs Ministry: Where To Start

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Heidi Hensley joins the podcast to discuss diagnoses of special needs are at an all time high. As the church, we need to be prepared to minister to these families and kids. In this session we will look at where to start, no matter your church size, and how to develop a program and team to love this very under resourced population.

Heidi M. Hensley has been a Children’s Pastor for the past 24 years. She is passionate about leadership and ministry, and developing more leaders who love to minister to children. Heidi has a Master’s Degree from Southern California Seminary, and lives in San Diego where she leads the Children’s Ministry area at Shadow Mountain Community Church

Kids Ministry, Podcasts, Special Needs

January 24, 2019

Autism and the Church

By Chuck Peters

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Diane Dokko Kim gives insight about common challenges, workarounds, teaching tools and strategies for the church to partner with families for inclusion.

Diane is a special needs ministry consultant, speaker, and author of Unbroken Faith: Spiritual Recovery for the Special-Needs Parent. Connect with her at www.dianedokkokim.com

Family, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Parent Helps, Special Needs

April 17, 2017

Ministering to Parents of Kids with Special Needs

By Delanee Williams

The number of children with special needs is rising. These needs may include physical, emotional, or cognitive differences. Some needs are obvious, while others may not be. I am not an expert in special needs ministry; however, through my years in ministry, I’ve learned parents of special needs children need to be ministered to as much as their children. Parents have shared their stories of heartache. Unfortunately, some of these encounters were at church. Use the four ways listed below to minister to these parents and families.

Listen and pray. Ask parents to share their story. Allow them to share their struggles. By listening, you connect with them and discover ways to minister. Pray for them and pray with them.
Always welcome them. Be genuinely happy to see parents and special needs children. More than likely, you and I are not aware of the struggles they face each day. Many times it’s an accomplishment to make it to church. Some families may feel they are a burden to your ministry. Protect against that perception. Families need to feel welcomed.
Share encouraging words and affirm parents. Every parent needs to hear positive words about their child, especially parents of children with special needs. Children with special needs are a blessing to our churches and ministries.
Educate teachers and parents of typically developing children. We can’t assume children, parents, and teachers have had exposure to kids with special needs. They may feel fearful, uncomfortable, not knowing what to say or how to act. Others may stare, or jump to conclusions about a child’s behavior. This hurts deeply. Use opportunities to educate parents and children to show compassion and kindness to children with special needs. Teach them to talk with them and get to know the child and the family. Help teachers connect with parents to gain information about their specific child in order to help the child have a positive experience at church.

I encourage you to learn more about special needs ministry. Leading a Special Needs Ministry is an invaluable resource for churches. We must seek ways to minister these children and their families. Churches need to be a place where families feel loved and encouraged.

Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with LifeWay Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.

Podcasts

March 2, 2017

Special Needs Ministry Secrets to Success

By Andy Dukes

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Amy Fenton Lee joins us on the Kids Ministry 101 Podcast to discuss why some churches have enthusiastic synergy and success when it comes to special needs inclusion while other churches seem to flounder. The answers might surprise you. There are some myths that make churches feel that they may not succeed in Special Needs Ministry that prevent them from starting. Topics of discussion include:

What struggles do special needs ministries in churches face?
Why do some special needs ministries seem not to be successful?
What does a successful and healthy special needs ministry look like?
Why is a successful special needs ministry important in a church?
How can churches develop a successful special needs ministry?

Amy Fenton Lee has written extensively on the subject of special needs inclusion in the church and blogs at www.TheInclusiveChurch.com. Amy grew up in the church as a “PK” (Preacher’s kid) and has since served as a volunteer leader in virtually every type of children’s and preschool ministry environment. Amy lives in Atlanta with her husband and son. She is the author of the book “Leading a Special Needs Ministry”, available at LifeWay.com and other major retail outlets.

Special Needs

September 15, 2014

5 Practical Steps to Help Special Needs Families Get Through Surgery

By Jana Magruder

Ellen Stumbo offers ideas for supporting families who have a special needs child undergoing surgery. These tips can apply to any family going through similar situations. Help equip the families you shepherd to be the hands and feet of Christ during these times.

It’s hard when your child has surgery, but when your child has special needs, it can be even more challenging. For many kids, their disabilities increase these challenges exponentially.

What if your child is non-verbal and cannot tell you how they are managing the pain?
What if your child has an intellectual disability and they do not understand what is happening?
What if your child has sensory processing issues and the hospital environment becomes overwhelming?

Special needs parents already have a lot on their plates, so here are 5 practical tips to help special needs families get through a surgery:
1. Offer to watch the other children on the day of surgery, or the first few days following surgery
If trusted friends help with the other children, parents can focus solely on their sick child. You might even go an extra step and offer to drive the kids to dance class or soccer.
2. Skip the hospital visit
Unless the child with special needs is very familiar with you and you plan to come to the hospital to give the parents a break, it might be best not to visit. Always ask, “Would it be helpful if we came to visit, or is it better to wait?” Some families have a hard time saying no, but it is overwhelming to entertain the visitors while trying to keep their child comfortable.
3. Text or email
Not going to the hospital does not mean that you cannot support the family. Text, email, message. You can do this throughout the day of surgery and the days following letting the family know you are thinking about them and praying for them. This is an incredible encouragement.
4. Bring meals or gift cards
This helps the family give their full attention and energy to help their child recover without worrying about the little things, like feeding the rest of the family. Maybe your church can organize meals for a week or two.
5. Offer a special home visit
When one of my daughters was in the hospital, a group of women from my church came to our house to clean and do laundry. Not everyone is willing to take this help, but you can offer. Or maybe a group of friends can pitch in and hire a cleaning lady for a day.

Ellen Stumbo is the wife of a pastor and a mother to three little girls, two of which have special needs. In Ellen’s words, she’s passionate about helping the church embrace people with disabilities – not out of pity or out of service, but out of a genuine understanding, acceptance, and celebration of their life. Find more on parenting, special needs, adoption, and faith at her blog – ellenstumbo.com

Encouragement, Special Needs, Sunday School

September 18, 2013

5 Tips for Special Needs Ministry – From an Expert

By Cristy Whitlock

Matthew 12:34 says, “For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” This is one of my favorite verses. When we are truly loving Christ, it’s evident by our words. Our passions are showcased in what we talk about.

In July, I met Sophie Boudreaux. Sophie is a sophomore at LSU. Within minutes of meeting, I knew her passion for loving people with special needs. We met on a mission trip to South Africa, and I was privileged to watch her interact with a teenage boy who has Down Syndrome. Sophie’s passion stems from growing up with a brother with Down’s, and she strategically places herself in more areas to love on others with this condition. Take a look at the five tips Sophie gives for doing special needs ministry:

1. Embrace the fact that everyone is special.

2. Recognize that our needs are the same – to feel loved, accepted & valuable.

3. Understand that the path to meeting needs has to be tailor-made for each person.

4. Read about the diagnosis or condition, then put the book down and get to know the person!

5. Avoid predetermining limitations.

There they are – five simple tips that will help you love your special buddies more effectively. I first saw the picture above on Sophie’s Facebook page, where she added the caption, “My heart has never been this happy. #blessedbeyondmeasure #rockingthatextrachromosome” On top of these tips, Sophie’s heart teaches us that doing special needs ministry is a blessing.

What other tips would you give for special needs ministry? Comment below!

Encouragement, Missions, Resources, Special Needs, Sunday School

August 30, 2013

Pinterest Friday: Special Needs Ministry

By Cristy Whitlock

With class clowns, quiet cuddle bugs, analytical thinkers, and everything in between, it’s a teacher’s job to facilitate a learning experience for each of the children gracing a colorful plastic chair or lounging on the carpet. Many times, these little bodies include one or more kids with special needs. This week’s Pinterest board highlights specific ways we can minister to kids with special needs and their families. We hope you enjoy it!

For resources specifically designed for Special Needs ministry, check out Special Buddies from LifeWay Kids!

Resources, Special Needs, Training

August 28, 2013

Help for Kids with Difficulty: Shadowing in the Classroom

By Katie DeCillo

Have you ever heard of shadowing in a kidmin classroom? Shadowing is a great technique used with children who are having difficulty in group settings. It requires an extra volunteer to stay close and assist when the child requires help. The person shadowing becomes the child’s buddy and must remain close enough to intervene when necessary. The volunteer would help, love, support, and encourage the child. And being close to the child will help limit disruptive behavior, help protect other children, and help the child feel guided, loved, and accepted.

Shadowing works well with different ages and stages of development. One of the earliest issues that teachers encounter is biting. The person shadowing stays close to the child that is having difficulty controlling the urge to bite. Because the volunteer is close, they can intervene when the child is getting ready to bite. This person also gets to know the child better and learns to recognize what is causing the child’s frustration which results in biting. This method also works with children who are having difficulty getting along with others. Children sometimes need gentle loving reminders to be nice while playing with friends.

Shadowing is a great way to maintain a positive teaching and learning environment. This technique benefits the child that is experiencing difficulty in group settings too. It will help the child get adjusted to being in a group as well as helping him through any transitional periods. Shadowing will create a happier, more positive teaching and learning environment for both the teacher and child.

Do you practice shadowing in your kids ministry classroom? Do you think it might improve the classroom experience for kids who need a little extra help?

Encouragement, Resources, Special Needs, Sunday School, Training

August 12, 2013

Tips for Giving Non-Verbal Instruction

By Katie DeCillo

The following post was written by Mona McDonald, Family Ministries Coordinator at First Southern Baptist Church Scottsdale, Arizona.

Non-verbal instruction is a very effective teaching method. Learning this great skill can rid your classroom of frustration and lost teaching time. Some children “want” your constant attention and look for ways to get it. Some children “need” your attention and don’t know how to get it. Try a few of these ideas during your next class and see what happens.

• Smile, raise your eyebrows and nod at someone who is following directions. This shows approval and encouragement
• Use eye contact with children who need to pay attention as you give instructions. Walk near them if necessary
• Touch your fingers to your mouth to silence; to your ear when asking to listen; to your head to encourage “thinking hard”
• Remind “rule-breakers” of a certain rule by pointing to the posted rule
• Being prepared is a great non-verbal way of instructing children that you are the teacher
• Some children need a little extra help so ask them to touch their knee or shoulder to refocus attention or touch the word they should be reading in the book to bring them back on task
• As you give instructions, make eye contact with the disruptive child and shake your head slowly to show disapproval of their actions
• Model your instructions

Disruptions are often a child’s desire to know that someone sees them and that they are an important member of the class. Children want to be successful and know they are important. Your non-verbal communication speaks louder than words.

Events

August 27, 2012

Special Needs Workshops at KMC!

By Katie DeCillo

We are very excited to have Amy Fenton Lee and her dad, Dr. Gary Fenton with us at this year’s Kids Ministry Conference! Amy and Dr. Fenton will be presenting several workshops you just won’t want to miss.

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Getting Started with a Special Needs Ministry (Monday AM Pre-Conference) | For two hours we’ll walk through a checklist addressing various issues ministry leaders should consider as they determine their church’s calling and capability for disability accommodation. Several models for special needs inclusion will be presented while also offering best practices to ensure success for everyone involved.

Raising Spiritual Healthy Staff Kids with Dr. Gary Fenton | Along with my dad (who is the Senior Pastor of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Birmingham), we’ll discuss ways the ministry leader-parent can facilitate the spiritual and emotional growth of their own child. Ideas will be offered to engage in authentic conversation, allowing the child to wrestle through the politics and public life unique to a family serving in church ministry.

Using High School Students in Kids Ministry | Students can be an asset to the children’s ministry environment. We’ll help you equip teens for service while fostering their own spiritual growth. We’ll talk about issues related to Sunday morning, Wednesday night, VBS and special needs settings.

Making Bible Stories come Alive for Kids with Special Needs | For a literal learner, understanding and processing an abstract Bible concept can be a challenge. We’ll explore ways to translate a Bible story into tangible or concrete experience and arm you with ideas to facilitate the spiritual growth of the child with special needs.

Strategies for Special Needs Inclusion | Understanding a child’s “sensory diet” and other physical and emotional needs is imperative for managing behavior challenges among children with differences and disabilities. In this fast-paced session we’ll offer ideas and tools to help the volunteer and the child with special needs experience success.

Want to join us?

Kids Ministry Conference is October 8th – 10th in Ridgecrest, North Carolina (near Asheville). For more information on all the speakers, workshops and registration, see kidsministryconference.com.

Special Needs Ministry: Where To Start

Autism and the Church

Ministering to Parents of Kids with Special Needs

Special Needs Ministry Secrets to Success

5 Practical Steps to Help Special Needs Families Get Through Surgery

5 Tips for Special Needs Ministry – From an Expert

Pinterest Friday: Special Needs Ministry

Help for Kids with Difficulty: Shadowing in the Classroom

Tips for Giving Non-Verbal Instruction

Special Needs Workshops at KMC!

All Ministry Sites

Digital Resources

LifeWay Network