special needs families

The statistics are staggering. 90% of families with special needs feel ignored, unwelcomed, or devalued in churches. This is a huge number, and it shows how much work needs to be done to make churches more inclusive. The overall feeling of special needs families is that they want to feel wanted, accepted, and seen. Carrie, Amy, and Sara discuss the experiences of special needs families and how churches can change. Through church education, accommodations, and empathy, families could feel welcomed and cared for.

Ep. 117; February 28, 2023

Key Moments:
[4:37] Encouraging adoption, but unwilling to deal with traumatized kids
[7:16] Churches aren’t ADA-compliant, and it’s apparent to us 
[12:55] The parents and those who have disabilities are the experts; ask us!
[18:29] Kids with hidden disabilities and/or trauma need a point person and kindness, not judgment
[23:33] Advocate for their child inside the walls of their church
[38:47] Things the church has done well

Resources:
Episode 113: Interview with Amber Reynolds
Ep. 88: Interview with Barb Stanley
Wonderful Works Ministry
SOAR

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• Find Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholt
• Find Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime

Double the fun...triple the work?  The holidays for a family with a differently abled family member can be full of love and stairs, staff taking vacation time, extra work and shopping, etc. 

Mikelle, Katherine, and Liz share their plans to make the holiday accessible for everyone.  After years of doing too much and trying to meet everyone's needs, the ladies are chillin' this holiday season.  Come chill with us.

PS. We are thankful for you and your support of this podcast!  

In the last three episodes of Parenting Impossible, The Special Needs Survival Podcast,  Annette Hines has been telling her story to explain how her journey brought her into the disability community as a mother, caregiver, advocate, and attorney. Now we are going to explore with the help of Shari Foos how stories can provide us with a real human connection. Shari Foos is a therapist, relationship specialist, adjunct professor, and creator of The Narrative Method. The Narrative Method is an award-winning approach to building connections between people through their storytelling.  There are twelve Core Concepts within the Narrative Method. Relational Mindfulness is a core concept that promotes the humanistic practice of relating compassionately to build deeper understanding. Another concept, A.W.E.  is embracing Awareness, Wonder, and Empathy to see the world through someone else’s perspectives. Each concept describes the ways in which we connect with one another. Shari shares with us that telling stories to one another allows us to be invited into belonging with others, creating mutual respect and empathy for each other. So please join us for this very insightful show! Learn more about Shari Foos's The Narrative Method, and the DIY Human Deck of Cards.

Shari Foos is a marriage and family therapist, adjunct professor, and creator of The Narrative Method, a California non-profit organization. Shari also co-founded the Bridge in 1999, a free humanities program for low-income adults at Antioch University Los Angeles. She received an MS in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University and a MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles. Ms. Foos serves on the board of the City Kids Foundation and is the recipient of the New Directions for Veterans Community Hero Award (2015) and The Antioch University Los Angeles Lifetime Achievement Award (2016). As a sought-after expert on the subject of relationships, remote group dynamics, and meaningful connection, her writing and commentary have appeared in a range of online and print publications and podcasts, including Real Simple, Huffington Post, Women’s Health, KBLA, Fatherly, Thrive Global, Shondaland, and The LA Weekly.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

This week Annette Hines, host of Parenting Impossible, explores in her introduction a new year, a new look at where we are in our finances, financial planning, and support services in the world of Covid as we move into year three of the pandemic.

The guest interview is a re-broadcast of one of our favorite episodes! Leah Moore, an author, mom, teacher, and advocate raising awareness for cri du chat. Leah’s story of raising three kids, one with Cri du chat syndrome is full of relatable stories of triumph and hardships while navigating the world of disability. Recently Leah released a book sharing her family’s journey, Loving You Big. This book is a memoir celebrating life’s victories and the profound impact of kindness. Please join us for this important and uplifting conversation.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

“Respite is for the parents and for the kids. It’s for the whole family to really have an opportunity to just come to a church and know that the church genuinely wants them to be there.”
-Gina Spivey, Disability Ministry Leader

Families or caregivers who have children with disabilities are often isolated, exhausted, and grieving. It's so invaluable when there is a place for kids to just be themselves, for caregivers to have a break, and for the church to serve well. Listen as Crystal Keating talks with ministry leaders Gina Spivey and Bret Welshymer about how they use respite events as an opportunity to minister to families impacted by disability in their church. They share the importance of respite and practical encouragement and advice for how you can put on a respite event. No matter how large or small, your church can provide this time of refreshment as a way to welcome and embrace families impacted by disability.

For more practical advice and tools to execute a successful respite event, download the free eBook, We’ve Got This! at www.joniandfriends.org/podcast

Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. Over the past 40 years, the ministry has grown to serve thousands of people impacted by disability worldwide: Joni and Friends has delivered 150,000 wheelchairs and Bibles through Wheels for the World and provided Christian care to 63,000 special needs family members through Family Retreats. The organization also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses through the Christian Institute on Disability.

www.joniandfriends.org