In a breakout I did on invisible disabilities, I got a question about how you can tell the difference between disobedience and disability. Are they choosing to disobey or are they unable to obey? That’s a tough one, isn’t it? And one we may get a lot from children’s ministry leaders, especially those who have…
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What are invisible disabilities? Invisible or hidden disabilities include emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorders/diagnoses with no apparent physical symptoms or characteristics. Includes students with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Anxiety disorders Autism spectrum disorders Developmental disabilities Learning disabilities PDD NOS Oppositional defiant disorder Mood disorders (depression, bipolar) Attachment disorders (common in adopted and foster care children) Fetal…
An important skill in disability ministry and any ministry with kids and teens is how to support positive behavior choices and decrease opportunities for distracting behavior. All behavior is communication. It’s our job to figure out what the child is communicating with the behavior and fill the need before it leads to distracting behavior. The…
I remember the day my older sister, who has Down syndrome, went down front at church and told the preacher she had accepted Jesus as her Savior. After a few more conversations, she was baptized. Faith, even childlike faith according to Matthew 18, is necessary, and she had that faith. But my son James won’t…