Tag Archives: Inclusion

Church…A Hostile Environment? (Part Two) Harmony Hensley

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Dr. G

I would encourage you to take a two pronged approach to making your church a more welcoming environment for families and kids impacted by disability.
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Redefining disability…and what it means for the church

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Dr. G

But the newer thinking is that it’s not your body that disables you, it’s the environment around you.” For example, an environment full of stairs is actually what disables a person in a wheelchair. “That’s a much more interesting way to look at disability,” Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Ministry Environments | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Church…A Hostile Environment? Harmony Hensley

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Dr. G

For families and children impacted by disability church is all too often viewed as a “hostile” environment in which they feel judged or unwelcome. Sadly, I’ve met a number of families who would summarize their church experience this way. Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Inclusion, Ministry Environments, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Are they really depressed, or do they have something else?

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Dr. G

One of the challenges I face as a clinician when a family comes to our practice because they suspect their child is depressed is teasing out all of the other possible explanations for why their child might appear depressed. Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Depression…Definitions matter

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Dr. G

The purpose of this series will be to help pastors, church staff, volunteers and Christian parents improve their ability to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression and children and teens and help them to most effectively support kids with depression and their families. Here’s a tentative outline of some of the topics we’ll be covering in the series… Continue reading →

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What our families experience…The “Bad Kid Fort”

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Dr. G

“Instead of sending him out of the room or any other myriad of options, she fashioned a large cardboard box and placed the box around his seat, completely enclosing him, in front of 30 of his peers,” Dean said.

Dean alleges the teacher wrote “bad kid fort” on the outside of the box while he was in it. She has a picture of the alleged fort on her Facebook page. It was sent to her by a student who saw it the hallway and snapped a photo. Continue reading →

Posted in Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Unapologetic…

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Dr. G

Parents, let’s resolve to move through as many days as the Lord grants us, loving our children, taking in their beautiful and unique qualities, being unapologetic for who they are, and enlightening those around us in the special way He has given us. After all, we don’t know if our child might be the very tool that God uses to change others in some unforeseen way. And that makes every life, even the quirky, chaotic or unusual, extremely worthwhile. Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Advocacy, Families, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How Dads are Impacted When Kids Have Disabilities

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Dr. G

Last year, an interesting study was presented at the International Society For Autism Research suggesting that over 30% of fathers of teens and young adults with autism experience symptoms of depression significant enough to warrant clinical attention. Continue reading →

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Church, We’ve Got a Problem

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Dr. G

How will the church serve a generation of families with kids who have issues with emotions or behavior that interfere with their ability to function on a day to day basis?
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Is autism a form of mental illness?

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Dr. G

Because of extensive media coverage and public education, the stigma associated with autism has largely disappeared. But the stigma associated with mental illness has largely remained. And that’s especially true in the church. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Autism, Controversies, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments