Tag Archives: sensory processing

The suicide epidemic among high-functioning persons with autism

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Dr. G

Adults with autism and no intellectual disability are over NINE TIMES MORE LIKELY to commit suicide when compared to their age-matched peers. Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Controversies, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Special Needs Ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Is it ever okay to exclude a child at church?

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Dr. G

It’s not okay to exclude a child at church, but sometimes including them in the same way as every other child isn’t a common sense approach, either. Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Inclusion, Ministry Environments, Special Needs Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rethinking “disability” in the church

Posted on November 15, 2015 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,” he adds. “So the onus isn’t on the ‘disabled’ person, it’s on the environment and on all of us.”
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Posted in Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How kids with disabilities are challenged when a new program year begins…

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Dr. G

As a new school year is beginning here in Northeast Ohio, many kids and families will face a daunting challenge at church.
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Posted in Advocacy, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Ministry Environments, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mental health inclusion…creating more welcoming ministry environments

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Dr. G

Every church can make a conscious effort to make their ministry environments more friendly to kids and teens with common mental health conditions and their families. Continue reading →

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Seven reasons church attendance is difficult when kids have mental illness…

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Dr. G

Today, we’ll start by identifying seven reasons church attendance/participation is difficult for families of kids with mental illness.
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Posted in ADHD, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

An unexpected plot twist…”Movie with Max”

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Dr. G

“I had a lot of parents, hundreds of parents that contacted me and said thank you for sharing this story, because this happens in my family, it happens in the community, it might look different but it even happens in our church that we can’t find our way in and people feel like you’re disrupting us.” Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Autism, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Inclusion Fusion, Stories, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Church transitions and kids with disabilities

Posted on August 17, 2013 by Dr. G

Transition times all too often result in kids and families falling away from church programming. With a little understanding of how transitions may impact kids with specific disabilities and some advance planning, church staff, volunteers and parents can help most have positive experiences as they progress into their age-appropriate ministry environments at the start of the new program year. Continue reading →

Posted in Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments