It Starts with One

The title of this blog came from the saying that I find myself quoting the most to people who ask how to start a Special Needs Ministry. It is simple...it starts with one. Is there a child in your church who doesn't fit into the typical mold? Is it hard for him to sit through a 10 minute lesson? Does he tend to have trouble interacting with others? Is it worse? Will he even enter the church when it is filled with people? Does he immediately get overstimulated with the fluorescent lights and loud music? Or do you have a child who has a PEG and shouldn't eat anything by mouth? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, you are ready to have a Special Needs Ministry. Am I saying that you need to go directly to your Senior Pastor, demand to be put on staff, and ask for a budget of $10,000 per year? Absolutely not but you do need to start looking at ways you can adjust what is already being done in order to accommodate the child who made you answer yes to any of the questions above. Are you able to be your first Special Needs Volunteer or do you know of someone who is? If so, you're on your way. Here are a few things to get you started:

1. Talk with the child's parents in a relaxed environment about their child. Find out what things trigger behaviors, what are his physical/social/spiritual needs, what do they do at home or at school to help ease these needs/triggers.
2. Talk with the staff in the areas to be addressed. Find out what level they'd like to be involved. Inform them of the problem and work with them to find a solution.
3. Make a plan with the parents, the special needs volunteer, and the teachers involved. Are you going to be able to integrate them in the typical program or are you going to have to adjust the programming in the back of the room for this specific child?
4. Try your plan but be FLEXIBLE to make changes as needed. Your goal is to make this child and his family feel comfortable in church...not to be right.

If you're able to take this child and his family from being outside observers to being inside participants, you've started a Special Needs Ministry. Remember is starts with one.