Communities of faith have great opportunities for welcoming, supporting and encouraging children with special needs and their families. Some churches have been including individuals with developmental disabilities who were first brought by their parents as babies, others have developed special ministries in outreach for adults in their neighborhood or region, and some recognize that disability is just an extension of the diversity in every community.

Families who expect their children to be embraced by congregations that have been the source of their own role models can feel frustrated, angry or heartbroken when a son or daughter with special needs cannot be accommodated or celebrated as an individual in that community of faith.

In every religion, neighborhood and city, there are individuals who have had no particular experience with children, teens or adults with disabilities, but who are interested in reaching out to create friendships or mentor relationships through their religious community.

Other people of faith have enjoyed the benefit of growing up with immediate or extended family members and wish to add to the richness of experience and quality of their own lives by welcoming people with disabilities into their worship group or ministry. If none of these individuals have found your family, search them out. The comfort and support of a faith community can sustain parents as well as support and encourage children with special needs and their siblings.

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Articles by Terri Mauro

Worshiping With a Special-Needs Child - Surviving a service takes planning
http://specialchildren.about.com/od/inthecommunity/a/worship.htm

Judging Disruptive Behavior in Church
http://specialchildren.about.com

Fifty Ways to Fill an Easter Egg
Easter Survival Guide
Worshipping with a Special Needs Child
Special Needs Kids and Special Occasions
Holiday Survival Kit - Family Survival
Holiday Survival Kit
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Bridge Ministries - Bringing together people with disabilities and faith communities
http://www.bridgemin.org/about/aboutbridge01.html

Excerpt: Theology and Down Syndrome: Reimagining Disability in Late Modernity - Complicating salvation: intellectual disability and Down syndrome by Amos Yong
http://www.altonweb.com/cs/downsyndrome/dec07.html

Seeds of Compassion
Resources for bringing compassion into your community, home, family, school and workplace
http://www.seedsofcompassion.org/why/resources.asp#parents

Inclusion at Church Mennonite Magazine Pages 8-13
http://www.themennonite.org/pdf/magazine_pdf_46.pdf

Rejoicing Spirits - A Welcoming Worship and Fellowship Experience
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Michigan and Tennessee
http://www.rejoicingspirits.org

Disability, Religion and Inclusion - Patricia Bauer
http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/06/01/disability-religion-and-inclusion


A Faith’s Embrace Leaves No One on the Outside
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/05

When a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Has A Disability
http://www.bnaimitzvahguide.com/disability.php

Please Stop Telling Me How Blessed I Am
http://www.mormonmommywars.com/?p=708

Fort Wayne News Sentinel
Worship geared to special-needs kids Churches find ways to include kids who don't always fit in

Browse at your local bookstore, public library or at online booksellers like Amazon.com for books like:

Including People With Disabilities in Faith Communities A Guide for Service Providers, Families, & Congregations by Erik W. Carter

Spiritual Care for Children Living in Specialized Settings