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Research shows that 90% of families that have a family member with a disability are considered "unchurched" or do not have a church that they consider a "church home." People with disabilities make up the largest minority group of people in America, and we are all just seconds away of having a life changing accident that would put us in that minority.
Are the churches missing their responsibility to these families? Should the church provide Sunday School Classes to include children with disabilities? Do they need to include children with disabilities in their Vacation Bible School? Should they offer a Teen Ministry to adolescents with Developmental Delay? How about offering "respite" opportunities to families in their communities, such as A Friday Night Out for children with disabilties so the parent can enjoy a dinner together.
Respite care gives the parents or cargiver a "rest" or "break" in the constant caregiving of the individual with the disabilties. It could be for the spouse of an adult with Alzheimers. Respite is the most needed and least provided service that families ask for nation wide. Why are some churches reluctant to learn and accept training and others are not? I know that it is fear, but with proper training, churches can offer the help and support these families need. You may be surprised what I hear on a weekly basis. This was just this week:
A mother shared with me at an Autism Resource Fair that her child with autism was "kicked out of church".
Another mother told me she brings her adolescent child to her Adult Sunday School Class because they do not serve "her age or disability"
It may feel like you can not take on any new programs. But now is the time to open your doors, and with training, your church family will feel at ease with people of all abilities. Your church members will have the skills they will need to see these individuals as people, not disabilities. The unpredictability of behaviors, the uniqueness in their wonderful personalities each individual brings, and the myths and misconceptions of people with disabilities make people afraid. But it is time to take the first step and reach out to these families. If your church is ready to reach out to your members and to people in your community that have disabilities and want to:
learn the special circumstances that families experience with constant caregiving
understand what "respite" is and how you can start a cutting edge program for your church
learn how to manage behavior concerns and the special gifts that children can bring to your church
learn how to eliminate physical and attitudinal barriers about people with disabilities
learn in a fun, and interative learning environment
Then "A Friend of James" is for you. Named for a little boy with autism named James, who lost his father to a heart attack when he was 10 years old. After the training you will leave with a new understanding of empowering people with disabilities. You will learn to treat people with disabilties as they ought to be treated and help them to be as independent as they can. You will see them as people, and not disabilities, and they will become your ushers, Sunday School classmates, deacons, and friends. You can welcome these families into your ministries and help teach the message of God in a hopeful, and caring environment.
If you are interested and would like for information, please call Vicky at (615) 585-1188. We also arrange out of town/state training and several churches can join together for a larger workshop.
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