SPEAKING WELCOME . . Your congregation can speak the right hospitality message for persons with special needs, and the message is free! But the message has to be intentional, and it’s not all words! . . “Hi, my name is Jane. What’s yours?” is a friendly opener. The reply, “I’m Nola.” Names are a perfect … Continue reading Speak Welcome
Distribute copies of this sheet to all groups involved in church-wide or small group planning with the explanation that planners should use it for every meeting and event. If you are the person distributing this event check sheet, plan how you will review the findings so you can be sure planners are using them. Informational … Continue reading Planning Sheet for Events
This buddy book works for buddies who work with all ages, and it is a valuable tool for teachers and buddies in a typical group as well as a separate group for persons with disabilities. Your Buddy Information is copyrighted. Alter or copy this to fit your needs, but please do not sell it. In the interest … Continue reading A Buddy Notebook
Suddenly Mary’s group lost momentum. What happened? Her teaching room was just right, cozy and cool with mostly bare walls and one picture pertinent to her Bible study and a few objects on the table. And the room had incandescent lights because one student has seizures. Mary felt God’s presence with the group. Her Bible … Continue reading Group Dynamics
HOW TO ADAPT CURRICULUM In order to adapt curriculum, you need to know— What is curriculum, and why adapt it? What are the goals for the group and for individuals? Guides for constructing a lesson plan for a class. Guides for adapting for a group without written curriculum. Tips for using the Bible and Bible … Continue reading Adapt Curriculum
Safety rules and guidelines keep students safe and provide a safety balance for leaders and for the church. Each church needs a set of safety rules for leaders who work with students with disabilities in any capacity including regular classrooms who have students with any special needs. Directors of the special needs programs at Chapelwood … Continue reading Safety Rules for Leaders
Sign language interpreters at our church are placed in good visual lines to both read and see what is happening. More than one interpreter is needed, and they trade off, sometime with specialty in music for which they have been given words to an anthem or Bible reading for which they have been given advance … Continue reading Hearing Impaired and Church Services
There is no voice loud enough to yell at the State of Texas budget cuts to the disabled and elderly. You can’t yell at the cuts. You have to yell at people, but they are deaf. Care givers of persons with special needs and older persons have yelled, they have called, written, faxed, demonstrated to … Continue reading The Texas Deaf Ear for Disabilities
In light of government funding to community based and private sector partnerships, the future is bleak for students who have graduated high school. Their parents, some of whom have had to quit jobs, have become the sole companion for the day, week, etc. Many of them are on waiting lists for any sort of help, … Continue reading Bleak Future for SN High School Graduates
The eyes and voices of parents of persons with disabilities reflect sheer terror about the futures of their children in light of proposed budget cuts in the state of Texas. The safety nets for their children and themselves is shredded! Group homes will be under-staffed or closed, day sheltered workshops that allow students to be … Continue reading Proposed Budget Cuts Terrorizing Parents of Disabled