MAY I COME UP TO PLAY? A Quick Skit on Differences Children playing in a tree house refuse to play with someone. This read-through skit is designed to engage players and an audience of youth or adults in thinking about what they consider to be differences or perhaps prejudices. The skit provides a focus for … Continue reading Skit: May I Come Up to Play? →

.Your church can become prepared to assist persons with special needs in all times of emergency from fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, disease pandemic or just a broken water main or massive power failure. We all think that an emergency will never happen on our watch or in our building or group, but we are mistaken. … Continue reading Church Emergency Plans →

The church can recognize needs of persons with disabilities* and hold them up to the light in all relationships, teaching and planning. Chronic illness, cancer, cerebral palsy, intellectual impairment – each person  with a disability*  has different  needs and comfort zones, but all have similar basic personhood needs. Use this student basic needs sheet as a … Continue reading Basic Needs of Persons With Disabilities →

Use a survey card in the pew rack or mail to discover disabilities of church members. Choose a special needs identification card or the more detailed survey form. Before using the card or form, plan how you will use the information. Designate that it will go to a task force or committee equipped to take … Continue reading Use A Pew Card →

Inclusion should be intentional in every area of church life. Distribute copies of this event check sheet to all groups involved in church wide or small group planning with the explanation that it should be used at every meeting. Why use this intentional planning check sheet?  Because our church seeks to Recognize and use the gifts … Continue reading Intentional Planning Check Sheet →

Appropriate leadership practices with special needs groups can facilitate use of students’ gifts and help leaders find a comfort zone. These leadership practices were designed for use with groups of students with special needs who were not mainstreamed, but they are also valuable practices for leaders of typical groups who have special needs students in … Continue reading Appropriate Leadership Practices →

TIPS FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS Use this tip sheet in leadership training and give it to every new recruited volunteer including mentors in typical classrooms. Personalize tips to fit your own program. Safety and personal relationships are of prime importance with students with special needs. Courtesy and Physical Safety 1.  Be open and loving, but wait … Continue reading Tips for Volunteers →

Church Environment Raise congregational awareness to special needs through the use of this prose with a group. Read three times. The leader asks participants to place his or her name in the blank the first time as the prose is read aloud. Read again with instructions to place the name of a person with a … Continue reading Raise Congregational Awareness →

Students with special needs can learn to love and read the Bible in many ways. These tips can get you started. WAYS YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD LOVE THE BIBLE AND LEARN FROM IT ————— Let them see you read the Bible for your own enjoyment. The way you use it every day teaches them … Continue reading Parents use of Bible →

Thanks for your interest in my work. I look forward to hearing your comments or suggestions. Naomi