Why Should We Prepare For People With Diverse Needs?
Approximately 1 in 68 children in the United States has an Autism Spectrum Disorder. This statistic does not include Down Syndrome, cognitive disability (mental retardation), difficulties related to prematurity, Cerebral Palsy, or any of a multitude of other disorders that require specialized care.
The rate of disability in children in the U.S. is 11%. This means that in our country about 4 million children and their families are living with special needs of some kind.
If you invite 10 families in your neighborhood to your church, statistics say that one of them will have a child with special needs. Can your church accommodate that child and welcome that family?
Children affected by disability often demonstrate challenging behavior, attention difficulties, sensory needs, difficulty/inability to communicate, and inappropriate social behaviors.
Do the teachers in your children’s classrooms have the practical skills to cope successfully with these issues? Do you have structures and systems in place to support these children?
Parents of children with special needs often feel ostracized, unwelcome, embarrassed, and fatigued. They don’t know where to get help and hope. Their marriages and finances are often shaky, they usually aren’t able to participate in small groups, and they long for someone to love and accept them and their children. Churches often turn these families away due to lack of preparation and education.
It is our job to reach THE WORLD for Christ, and it’s obvious from the above statistics that in our world, many families need the support of a team of people specially trained to provide care for their children.
People affected by developmental disabilities and their families are currently an unreached people group who deserve to be welcomed and cared for with excellence.
The rate of disability in children in the U.S. is 11%. This means that in our country about 4 million children and their families are living with special needs of some kind.
If you invite 10 families in your neighborhood to your church, statistics say that one of them will have a child with special needs. Can your church accommodate that child and welcome that family?
Children affected by disability often demonstrate challenging behavior, attention difficulties, sensory needs, difficulty/inability to communicate, and inappropriate social behaviors.
Do the teachers in your children’s classrooms have the practical skills to cope successfully with these issues? Do you have structures and systems in place to support these children?
Parents of children with special needs often feel ostracized, unwelcome, embarrassed, and fatigued. They don’t know where to get help and hope. Their marriages and finances are often shaky, they usually aren’t able to participate in small groups, and they long for someone to love and accept them and their children. Churches often turn these families away due to lack of preparation and education.
It is our job to reach THE WORLD for Christ, and it’s obvious from the above statistics that in our world, many families need the support of a team of people specially trained to provide care for their children.
People affected by developmental disabilities and their families are currently an unreached people group who deserve to be welcomed and cared for with excellence.
