Category Archives: Autism

Church: The Friendliest Place in Town? Mike Woods

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Dr. G

the potential exists for the church to be considered by the special needs community as a group that is judgmental, fearful, and exclusive. As a result, it is often perceived as the un-friendliest place in town. Continue reading →

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Why are we shocked by the Bay Village “Ice Bucket Challenge?”

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Dr. G

The behavior demonstrated by the perpetrators of the “Ice Bucket Challenge” reflects our human nature. Christianity teaches that none of us are righteous! What type of behavior should we expect to see, especially in a culture in which more and more of us reject God, and fail to recognize any absolute standards of right and wrong? Many of the risk factors associated with bullying are symptomatic of the breakdown of the family unit as the fundamental building block of society. This is just the beginning… Continue reading →

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What families of teens and young adults with developmental disabilities need from church…

Posted on August 26, 2014 by Dr. G

Nearly 500 parents of adolescents or young adults with developmental disabilities were asked two questions about fourteen supports that churches could provide to their family… Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Autism, Families, Intellectual Disabilities, Resources, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A disability is still a disability for kids who aren’t disabled all the time

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Dr. G

Many kids and adults experience mental health conditions that substantially limits their ability to participate in church as a major life activity while maintaining reasonably high levels of functioning at school, at work or at home. Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Too much visual stimulation may be bad for most kids…

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Dr. G

The research describing the impact of environment upon learning in children offers one of the best examples of how churches can take concrete steps to become more welcoming to all families (especially those with children who struggle with attentional regulation or sensory processing) and more effective during the limited time they have to influence kids without having to develop a stand-alone ministry “program” or requiring families to self-identify their kids with disabilities. Continue reading →

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Too much visual stimulation may be bad for most kids…

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Dr. G

The research describing the impact of environment upon learning in children offers one of the best examples of how churches can take concrete steps to become more welcoming to all families (especially those with children who struggle with attentional regulation or sensory processing) and more effective during the limited time they have to influence kids without having to develop a stand-alone ministry “program” or requiring families to self-identify their kids with disabilities. Continue reading →

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Observations from a Christian Psychiatrist…Elliot Rodger and the Santa Barbara Killings

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Dr. G

We know that vulnerable kids experience enormous harm from harsh words and bullying, and our schools and institutions have appropriately taken steps to protect them. But what about protecting vulnerable kids from the impact of the highly sexualized culture in which we live? I’ve treated a number of kids in recent years who exhibit the effects of trauma resulting from exposure to sexual material or situations fairly common to daily life.
Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Controversies, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Thinking differently about kids and mental illness…

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Dr. G

One of the challenges in understanding the epidemic of mental illness in kids is that conditions such as anxiety disorders and ADHD may be disabling in some environments, but not others. Continue reading →

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Common mental health conditions can be MAJOR barriers to church involvement

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Dr. G

It’s particularly difficult to understand why parents who might be able to maintain a job and a household or kids who are able to school without one-on-one aides or lots of support services aren’t able to attend church. I’ll try to explain why in today’s post…and give churches a conceptual framework for anticipating the obstacles kids and adults might experience in attending church and addressing them so they no longer remain obstacles.
Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Ministry Environments, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Thinking Orange…Partnering with parents when kids have disabilities

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Dr. G

More so than with parents in the general population, church leaders may need to do more to earn the right to partner with parents from families affected by disabilities. Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Resources, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment