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Author Archives: Dr. G
Ritalin Gone Wrong? What’s a Parent to Believe?
Kids with ADHD continue to struggle relative to their peers without ADHD over time. They need lots of ongoing help and support. They need access to cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy from competent and effective clinicians. They need schools with the flexibility to provide accommodations to help all kids maximize their potential. They need stable environments and supportive families. They don’t need stories in the news media unnecessarily fueling the fears of parents about the safety or effectiveness of medication they give to their kids struggling with a significant disability. You can’t use a study that wasn’t designed to demonstrate the long-term effectiveness of stimulant medication to claim that such medication is ineffective.
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Posted in ADHD, Controversies
Tagged ADHD, L. Alan Sroufe, medication in kids, MTA Study, New York Times, Ritalin, Ritalin Gone Wrong, stimulants
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Communication Breakdown…Doing Ministry Together Without Diagnostic Labels
If we decide not to use a medical-based model as a common language around which to serve kids and families in churches, we need a common language for communication with one another that can be readily understood by every staff person and every volunteer at church. I’ll argue that it’s best to to use everyday language while guided by a set of communication principles. Continue reading
Do We Put People in Boxes?
Most people “get” what autism is about because of some fabulous public education initiatives. But way too many people think that ADHD is caused by poor discipline at home, anxiety is produced by a lack of faith and that depression persists because the person afflicted doesn’t pray enough. If we get hung up on diagnoses, the value judgments of too many people in our churches becomes an impediment to creating welcoming ministry environments for all kids and families.
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Posted in Controversies, Inclusion
Tagged churches, diagnosis, Inclusion, Key Ministry, No Labels, putting people into boxes, Stephen Grcevich MD
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The Purpose of Diagnostic Criteria
Think about this…Diagnosis is ultimately used as a tool to facilitate the treatment of patients/clients with identifiable medical/psychiatric disorders.
Does the church treat kids with disabilities? Or do we disciple them? Continue reading
Posted in Autism, Controversies, Key Ministry
Tagged Autism, church, diagnosis, Dr. Fred Volkmar, dsm-5, Key Ministry, Stephen Grcevich MD
4 Comments
Mini-Series: No Labels…Should Diagnosis Matter at Church?
This coming week, we’ll take a closer look at the topic No Labels…Should Diagnosis Matter at Church? Here’s a preview: Continue reading
Posted in Resources
Tagged Asperger's Disorder, Autism, church, diagnosis, Key Ministry, No Labels, Stephen Grcevich MD
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Klout…What’s a Good Christian to Do?
So here’s the dilemma…We have a fabulous team of speakers and trainers at Key Ministry and friends and colleagues in other ministries with wonderful ideas and strategies and resources that I want to get in front of as many pastors, church staff and volunteers as possible so that they can help connect families of kids with disabilities to churches. There are certain rules in place that guide who gets access to platforms of influence. I think we’re doing this for the right reason if we use resources like Klout, but…
I come back to the Scripture verses above, and many others like them. How do we serve the purposes of God without reflecting the character traits of God? The temptation for self-promotion through social media seems great. And we’re supposed to flee from temptation, right?
What’s a good Christian to do?
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Posted in Controversies, Key Ministry, Strategies
Tagged Christian, Key Ministry, Klout, social media, Stephen Grcevich MD
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Some weekend reading…and a request for input
We’ve put together a summary page with links to all of our blog posts from our most popular series… The Impact of ADHD on Spiritual Development. We now have a summary page with links to every post from our most popular series of 2011… Thinking “Orange”…Family Ministry Strategies When Families Have Special Needs. Continue reading
Kids With Aggressive Behavior…Is it Ever OK for a Church to Say No?
So when should kids at risk for severe aggression be asked to stay home? Schools have guidelines for parents about when they should keep children home to prevent other kids from getting sick. When are other kids, church staff and volunteers at risk of being harmed by kids prone to aggression?
If the parent(s) can’t manage the child’s behavior safely at home
When a foreseeable event has transpired at home (changes/lapses in medication used to control aggressive behavior, marked escalation of behavior while transitioning/preparing to leave for church) or at church (changes from the norm in environment/availability of appropriately trained staff or volunteers familiar to the child) increasing the child’s risk of aggressive behavior.
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Should a Parent of a Child With Special Needs Run For President?
I’m not expressing an opinion about Mr. Santorum’s candidacy one way or another. But he and his family deserve the respect to make decisions about how best to serve while raising a child with special needs. He also deserves to be judged by the voters on the basis of his leadership ability, character, judgment and ideas and not by uninformed perceptions of how a parent of a child with special needs should be spending their time.
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Posted in Controversies, Parents
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