Network support for churches and families

[Kay Morgan-Gurr]

There are lots of people out there working a lonely path trying to help churches and families where there are children with special needs. Would it be a good idea to pool our resources and expertese to help them in a better way?
I do a lot of training in this area - I'd love to have more people to call on where I have gaps in my experience!

[Heather Holgate]

Kay, I think that is a great idea! I would love to share ideas with others. I often feel that just becuase I have a heart for these children and their families, I am expected to know it all ! This is far from the truth and I would love to learn from others in their areas of knowledge / experience.
Developing resources can also be very time consuming as it often has to be very specific and different for each child., so sharing could be very helpful.

[Kay Morgan-Gurr]

Exactly! I have expertese in some areas and and not others. when I train on this I'm careful to say that it's not the same for every child with a special need and their family - each needs their own considerations and help. To train people in this area properly would take over a week and a lot of specialists!
Having the heart for these kids is a great - just to develop that in our churches would be brilliant!
Let's get inviting people! If you know people with specialist knowledge - invite them to join children matter and this group.
And......We must meet up.......!
K

[Trevor and Claire Graham]

Scripture Union have an allocated Special Needs worker who can advise on things. However all churches are required to make reasonable and practicable adjustments as part of the Disability Discrimination Act.

I'm an Occupational Therapist so have some knowledge about people with special needs, in essence though the parents are those who will know most about the needs of their child(ren), but this does not mean that they should be responsible for everything.

It's very similar for those children without a disability. We, as parents, know most about the needs of our children - this does not mean that we have to teach them in Sunday School - but it does mean that we and our children have to build up trust and confidence in those within the church who will be caring for / teaching the children. Once this relationship has developed then I am confident to let these people be responsible for my child.

Similarly, for the parents of children with a disability, the same process is required but will take much longer because they have more needs that are unique to them or unique to those with the same condition as them.

The challenge is likely to be the same for this as for any aspect of Church life, resourcing it. Finding enough people who are willing to commit to this longer term commitment will, I suspect, be the real challenge.

However if I the knowledge I have can be helpful, then feel free to call on it.

Trevor

[chenda nuttall]

We can't possibly have all the skills necessary to know exactly how to handle each special needs child and often the parent is the best resource but developing the confidence to say we can do this and we are willing to try is also important.
Having a nursing/health visiting background often helps here but as I have looked after a variety of special needs children I have learnt from the parents .We have two children who have joined our church in the last year and in both cases visiting the home has been vital.

[Alice Langtree]

Hi Kay - I have recently started working as a special needs adviser for Scripture Union. I would love to be part of a network to support churches, families and children with special needs. I have a background of over 20 years in special education specialising in children and young people with physical disabilities and associated learning difficulties, including children on the autistic spectrum .
I would be pleased to link with you and share ideas.