Special needs programs in churches

[mommie2angels]

We are in the planning stages of a special needs program in our church. If you have one set up at your church would you please email me with the church's name, location (mainly state or country) and how the program works. mommie2angels@mindspring.com. I would greatly appreciate any help you could offer on this. Thanks so much!!!

We are having trouble with our home phone so our Internet service is coming and going. If I don't respond to your post or emails within a day or so you know what's up. Thanks again!

Kelli
mommie to Mary Elizabeth 10 (Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, apnea, epilepsy, panhypothyroidism, reactive airway disease)
Michala 6 (Aicardi syndrome, ACC, nystagmus, epilepsy, amputee, angiosarcoma, schizencephaly, duane's syndrome)
Marlee Anne 18 month
wife to Mike

 

[Talking Hands]

What do you need by a special needs ministry? We have a Deaf Ministry as well as interpreters for 1 service each Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday as well as any other events that deaf people want to attend if the request it. I have interpreted parents meetings, Women's ministry as well as other events outside the church for our members.
Other special needs children and adults attend regular Bible Study classes and are included fully. This includes some physically handicapped, autistic as well as mentally handicapped. Deaf children may attend a special Bible Study class specifically for them or a regular age appropriate class with one of us interpreting or not depending on their parents and their choice.

 

[wuv tigger]

Kelli!

Judy

 

[Val]

Since I have my own kids, I don't participate in this anymore, but we have an excellent program for our parishes called Special People Encounter Christ....here is the website, I think. The contact person is a friend, and I know she would be willing to help you!

Special People Encounter Christ

I have greatly enjoyed their programs! Good luck. More programs like this are needed so very, very much.

 

[Tiggeroo]

We have a program called Guardian Angels. Volunteers go one on one with children who require extra attention during the service so the parents can relax and refuel. The children involved generally have problems such as Down's Syndrome, Asperger's (sp?), ADDHD, behavior issues, and perhaps some minor handicaps which have them wheelchair bound, or cause communication problems. The training is minimal, we are a small church, and the volunteers aren't qualified to do much more then keep the children amused. They establish a one on one relationship with a particular child. My 16yo son is a volunteer and he and the boy attend each others sporting events and school programs.
We tend to offer help to these families and children. There are often a couple of these kids up front with the band, banging on some drums or singing with the worship chorus. Once a month we have a service where the kids can just run around and sing and worship, with only enough structure to prevent injury. Because of this for a small church we have alot of families like this in attendance.

 

[mommie2angels]

Thank ya'll so much! These ideas are great! We are a large church and are continuing to grow. I know there are churches that have programs in place that work for them. I am just gathering ideas of what churches have going right now to see what will work for us. Thanks to everyone!

 

[momof2inPA]

The Archdiocese of Pittsburgh has a religious education special needs program, and there is a section in every chapter of our CCD book specifically for teaching children with special needs.

http://www.diopitt.org/education/dpd.htm

I don't know what religion you are. This may or may not be helpful.