Tag Archives: Stephen Grcevich MD

Tips for Church Staff and Volunteers Serving Kids With Asperger’s Disorder

We’ve looked at some of the common characteristics of kids with Asperger’s Disorder along with the impediments they face to spiritual growth and the obstacles parents of kids with the condition face when attempting to “do church.” Today, we’ll get very practical and explore some helpful hints for church staff and volunteers involved in serving kids with Asperger’s. Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Applying a Family-Based Ministry Model When Kids Have Asperger’s Disorder

So…If the parent(s) are the “experts” when it comes to individualizing strategies to promote spiritual development in kids with Asperger’s, what’s the role for the church? Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Families, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Spiritual Development, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Asperger’s Disorder…Barriers to Inclusion at Church

Last Sunday, we examined some of the challenges to spiritual growth kids with Asperger’s Disorder are likely to encounter. Today, we’ll focus our attention more specifically on barriers to inclusion of kids with Asperger’s at church.
Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Inclusion, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Spiritual Growth Challenges for Kids With Asperger’s Disorder

We spent time this past week reviewing the criteria used to diagnose Asperger’s Disorder, and looked at some of the challenges kids with Asperger’s experience as a result of other conditions frequently associated with the disorder. Today, we’ll use this information to anticipate the obstacles to spiritual growth kids with the condition are likely to encounter.
Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Key Ministry, Resources, Spiritual Development | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Downloads and Free Registration for the Children’s Ministry Websummit

Just a reminder…my video presentation on our current blog series, Square Pegs and Round Holes…Helping Kids With Asperger’s Disorder and Social Disabilities Grow Spiritually, will be available online from April 2-6 as part of the 2012 Children’s Ministry Websummit.
Continue reading

Posted in Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Spiritual Development, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Top Posts From Q1 2012

I’m grateful for the interest shown in all three of our “official” Key Ministry blogs. Along with Church4EveryChild, Harmony Hensley’s blog-A Reckless Pursuit and Katie Wetherbee’s blog-Diving For Pearls have been featured on the Wordpress Blogs of the Day feature. Katie’s blog alone has had over 200,000 page views in the first quarter of 2012! Continue reading

Posted in Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More Stuff You Should Know About Kids With Asperger’s Disorder

This past Tuesday, we reviewed the diagnostic criteria for Asperger’s Disorder and emphasized the notion that the unique pattern of strengths and weaknesses seen in kids with the disorder complicates efforts to serve them programmatically. We’ll continue our discussion today by examining three additional characteristics of many kids with Asperger’s that often complicate their ability to participate in activities at church.
Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Square Pegs and Round Holes…Helping Kids With Asperger’s Disorder and Social Disabilities Grow Spiritually

Today we’re launching a series to help support churches seeking to minister more effectively to families of kids with Asperger’s Disorder and other social disabilities. The blog series will kick off five weeks of special content in honor of Autism Awareness Month. This series will also accompany a video presentation I’ll be offering on the topic as part of the 2012 Children’s Ministry Websummit, available online, everywhere, free of charge (registration required), from April 2-6. Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New resource on including kids with aggressive behavior at church

Here’s a one-stop resource tying together the blog series from last fall, Beyond Zero Tolerance…When Kids Become Aggressive at Church. In addition to an edited version of the entire series in a single article, I included a SlideShare presentation of the lecture I was invited to present on the topic at last Fall’s Bioethics Conference and Through the Roof Summit at Cedarville University.
Continue reading

Posted in Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Helping Kids With Asperger’s Disorder Grow Spiritually…2012 Children’s Ministry Websummit

In this presentation, I’ll review the challenges to church attendance and participation resulting from Asperger’s Disorder, discuss how family ministry approaches can help spur spiritual growth in kids with social disabilities and share tips for children’s pastors, church staff and volunteers for successfully including kids who struggle socially in your ministry environments. Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Key Ministry, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment