Leading an Inclusion Initiative

Amy Fenton Lee

STATISTICS, LAWS & TRENDS

19% of Americans have a disability

1 in 88 children have autism 1/54 boys, 1/252 girls

7% of children have ADHD

8% of children have a learning disability

10% of children have an anxiety disorder

13% of children have a developmental disability

Special Needs Statistics

STATISTICS, LAWS & TRENDS

As part of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act:

LRE = Least Restrictive Environment

By law, schools are required to provide a free appropriate education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment that is appropriate to the individual student's needs. LRE) means that a student who has a disability should have the opportunity to be educated with non-disabled peers, to the greatest extent appropriate. They should have access to the general education curriculum , or any other program that non-disabled peers would be able to access. The student should be provided with supplementary aids and services necessary to achieve educational goals ….With the differences in needs varying broadly, there is no single definition of an LRE.

 

Laws In Education

STATISTICS, LAWS & TRENDS

Autism 41% of people with an ASD have an intellectual disability

What about the other 59%?

Trends

THE A’s OF INCLUSION

Accepting the individual and family impacted by special needs

Accommodating the specific needs of the child, student, or adult with a disability

Advancing the spiritual development of the person with learning differences

The Progression of the Ministry

DEFINE OBJECTIVES

Differing Church Missions & Demographics

Not every church is called to do special needs ministry the same. Not every church has the same resource pool.

Diversity of the disability population

A church’s competencies tend to build on the attributes and needs of original participants.

Delineate long term goals from short goals

Address the role of therapy and treatment inside the ministry

Determine what the church can do in the short term, and do it well.

Proactively shape parent expectations by setting public timeline for ministry progression:

Adding hours /services for accommodation

Additional settings (VBS)

Respite events

Parent support Groups

Determine the Capabilities & Calling of the Church

THREE INCLUSION MODELS

Full Inclusion Utilizes buddies in typical ministry settings

Self Contained Special Needs Room Separate classroom

Hybrid Individualized plan for each child and may utilize both environments

Making it Work

ASSIGN STAFF OWNERSHIP

Where does special needs ministry belong?

Independent Ministry

Pastoral Care

Children’s/Family Ministry

Making it Work

THE MINISTRY CHAMPION

Profile Female impacted by special needs by choice (profession) or through extended family

Roles & ResponsibilitiesAdministrative

Relational & Nurturing

Judgment & Leadership

Paid vs VolunteerIs the special needs champion providing leadership and guidance for the Church?

Is the church staff mentoring and managing the special needs champion?

Setting the Leader Up for Success

RISK MANAGEMENT

Standard ministry forms www.TheInclusiveChurch.com

Ministry policies

Parent advisory committee

Lawsuits & Bad Press

Setting the Church Up for Success

SUPPORTING THE FAMILY

Occasional respite

Stephen Ministry Partnership

Parent Connection Groups

Outings & Easy Events

Small Ways to Make a Big Impact

Leading an Inclusion Initiative

Amy Fenton Lee