Re:very OT - church attendance survey

[Guest guest]

I am wanting to start a special program for children with disabilties at our

church. Our leadship has questions about what percentage of families with

disabilites are unchurched. I suspect from conversation with parents of kids in

our school that many families with disabilities in the family don't attend

church because there are not appropriate placements for their kids. I would

appreciate private responses as to whether or not you attend church, if not is

it

because there is not an appropriate place for your child and if you do attend

does your child go with you or attend regular classes for kids. Any other

pertinant comments would be appreciated including adults with disabilites.

Thanks

so much.

momofmanysix@...

[Guest guest]

What a great topic. This one is close to my heart since my husband

and I are both pastors at our church.

To be honest, if not for our experience with our son there would

probably not be a program for special needs children where we are

simply because it is not something that you really think about until

you experience it.

That said, if we were not in leadership and did not have the ability

to start a program in our church we would not be able to attend. Our

son is way to demanding and hands on to leave in a typical nursery

setting or to keep in the sanctuary during service.

I know of many families that simply " cannot " attend church because

of a special needs child that would like to. I have a friend right

now who has to keep her son in a regular classroom and is not having

a very positive experience becuase the staff is just too

uncomfortable and uneducated about autism to deal with him.

I also remember experiencing a set of twins once before that were

autistic and very active in the nusery of a churhc we were visiting.

The worker said " they just need to learn what no means and they are

going to learn that today " AHHHHHH! How scary for a parent to think

they may be leaving their child in that environment.

I also think that if it is anyones responsibilty to reach out to

these children and their families is it the church's. I commend you

and your efforts to provide an atmosphere that is devoted to them.

As goes the saying...... " If you build it, they will come "

Melinda

> I am wanting to start a special program for children with

disabilties at our

> church. Our leadship has questions about what percentage of

families with

> disabilites are unchurched. I suspect from conversation with

parents of kids in

> our school that many families with disabilities in the family don't

attend

> church because there are not appropriate placements for their

kids. I would

> appreciate private responses as to whether or not you attend

church, if not is it

> because there is not an appropriate place for your child and if you

do attend

> does your child go with you or attend regular classes for kids.

Any other

> pertinant comments would be appreciated including adults with

disabilites. Thanks

> so much.

>

> momofmanysix@a...

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>>Our leadship has questions about what percentage of families with

> disabilites are unchurched. I suspect from conversation with parents

of kids in

> our school that many families with disabilities in the family don't

attend

> church because there are not appropriate placements for their kids.

We attend church. Our church has classes for children with

disabilities, and adults with disabilities. The child class has about

15-20 kids attending each week, varying ages and disabilities. The

class is taught at about a second-grade level, with accommodations for

each child's needs. For the adult class, busloads of adults from

group homes attend. It is very nice.

For my kids, my #3 attends regular class with #4. This year they were

both in the 4yo class [#4 was age 4, #3 was age 6]. We just talk to

the teachers and let them know about #3's abilities. This year went

very well, #3 only needs 2 accommodations. We have discussed with the

5yo teachers, and they have no problem including #3 in that class next

year.

#2 is more difficult, because he is most appropriate in a 3yo class,

but at age 8 he is too large for that class. He has attended the

children with disabilities class on occasion, but we usually sit with

him in the Family Room [where families can sit together] or outside

[there are screens and speakers outside, this is SoCal!]. Now BIL has

volunteered to sit outside with him on most Sundays, so my husband and

I can sit inside the main sanctuary.

We attend a very large church, there are a lot of options.

Good luck.

Dana

[Guest guest]

, there are some excellent resources out there for helping your

church. I have some links, if you want them just zap me an email.

Also, Dr. Dobson has discussed this issue with not seeing

disabled people in churches and the need for churches to be there

for people with disabilities. You might be able to contact his radio

program for more assistance.

Debi

> I am wanting to start a special program for children with

disabilties at our

> church.

[Guest guest]

> If you don't mind my asking I'd like to visit your

> Church, I'm from Southern California as well. I've

> been trying to get my Church to get the same type

> program you are speaking about for the last 6 years.

I attend Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa. The Children's Developmentally

Disabled Ministry class meets at the 9:30am service on Sunday. You

can call the church if you want, 714/979-4422.

I also have heard [but have not attended] that Calvary Chapel

Riverside has a program where they pair up a non-disabled peer with

each disabled child, and I think the child attends the regular classes

altho I am not sure about that.

Good luck.

Dana