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Disability Smart in Church

  • Instructor and Course Introduction

    • Instructor: Barbara Newman.
    • Course: "Creating Congregations of Belonging with People of All Abilities."
    • Organization: All Belong Center for Inclusive Education.
    • Objective: To create inclusive congregations for people of all abilities.

  • Course Goals

    • Provide a framework for inclusivity in congregations.
    • Offer specific information and tools for including people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome, unique behavior challenges, and adults with reading difficulties.
    • Promote inclusive worship, learning, fellowship, and service opportunities.

  • Barbara Newman's Background

    • Special education teacher at Zeeland Christian School since 1989.
    • Experience in including students with various disabilities.
    • Motivated by parents' struggles to find inclusive church communities for their children.

  • Challenges Faced by Families

    • Parents reported difficulties finding inclusive churches.
    • Churches often lacked the tools and knowledge to include children with disabilities.
    • Newman’s commitment to providing tools and resources to congregations.

  • Three Common Reactions to Inclusion

    • Yes Reaction: Excitement and positive experiences of inclusion in their congregation.
    • Maybe Reaction: Questions and uncertainties about the need for and implementation of inclusion.
    • No Reaction: Avoidance or negative experiences related to inclusion, often due to cultural or personal discomfort.

  • Importance of Inclusion

    • Inclusion benefits the entire congregation, not just individuals with disabilities.
    • Each part of the community is important, reflecting the biblical blueprint of community.

  • Statistics on Disabilities

    • Approximately 20% of the population in the U.S. has a designated disability.
    • This statistic includes a range of disabilities across different age groups.
    • High prevalence of disabilities highlights the importance of inclusive practices.

  • True Stories of Exclusion

    • Real-life examples of families struggling to find inclusive church communities.
    • Emotional impact of exclusion on families and the need for compassionate responses from congregations.

  • Autism Statistics

    • Dramatic increase in autism diagnoses over the years.
    • Importance of updating information to reflect current statistics (e.g., 1 in 59 children diagnosed with autism).

  • Course Invitation

    • Encouragement to reflect on personal and congregational attitudes towards inclusion.
    • Aim to provide practical tools and biblical insights to foster inclusive communities.

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