Kim Coursey

-Share the types of language used by those with disabilities.

-Show examples of devices, software, and tools that students use to communicate.

-Discuss the role communication plays in building trust.

-Practice common sign-language words.

-Give examples of how students use behavior to express their feelings and needs.

 -Role-play effective communication strategies. 

-Share the types of difficult behaviors occurring and brainstorm solutions.

-Show samples of lost child protocols and incident reports.

-Discuss how a student, parent, or volunteer may feel if there's no reconciliation.

-Teach the differences between tantrums and meltdowns and how to react to each. 

-Train how to release oneself from a grab of hair or body part. 

-Practice guiding and blocking without grabbing or holding. 

-Decide when to ask a parent to return.

-Have an ABA therapist join you.

-Review the many challenges faced by those with special needs.

-Share common preferences on how those with disabilities like to be addressed, assisted, etc. 

-Set up stations where participants can experience what it's like to have autism, use a wheelchair, be vision or hearing impaired, etc. 

-Discuss the fears related to approaching and interacting with someone different than us.

-List wrong perceptions and brainstorm ways to correct them.

-Have a panel of those with disabilities to share their preferences and answer questions.  

-Share current and past events and describe what worked, and what didn't.

-Share checklists, guides, and forms used for events.

-Discuss ways to make church-wide events sensory-friendly.

-Show a list of events and like-minded organizations in your community.

-Share ways to raise funds and save money. 

-Talk about reasons for ending activities and how to do it well. 

-List needs that could be fulfilled by activities.

 -Ask everyone to write down their church's goals and how their special-needs ministry helps achieve them.  

-Share success and failure stories of experiences meeting with leaders. 

-Discuss how keeping your students visible will bring others on board.

-Role-play a meeting with church leaders who have opposing views. 

-Share documents that share your community's needs.

-Have a leader join your meeting to share helpful tips on working with committees and boards.

-Review scripture that supports a disability ministry. 

--Have a parent share their story of how being accepted (or rejected) at a church impacted their family.

-Share moments when you realized a student understood God's love and grace.

-Practice what you would say to a parent who is discouraged about their child's faith.

-Brainstorm ways to encourage volunteers to keep teaching when discouraged. 

-Adapt a typical lesson as a group.

-Show props you've used to engage all senses. 

-Describe your classrooms set up and activities that encourage learning. 

-Discuss how to adapt typical requirements for baptism and church membership..

-Make a list of the many decisions families need to make.

-Share examples of how your church's programs could help meet the practical needs of your families. 

-Compile a list of reliable resources. 

-Stress the importance of understanding how to protect a church's non-profit status while working with companies.

-Discuss how to recognize when parents are mourning typical milestones not reached. 

-Describe ways to connect seasoned parents with newer parents.

-Ask your LIDDA representative to join your meeting.