Who are you... really? Are you just our son, brother, grandson, friend? Are you just a 17-year old young man? Are you just Autistic? Or with Learning Difficulties and Epilepsy? Yes, James, you are all of these things, but are you just what people see you to be? Are you so much more than you … Continue reading Who Are You Really?
There seems to be such a wide disparity of opinion and practice across church denominations, and even within church denominations, about if, when, and how, to include children, young people, and even young adults in communion, baptism, serving in church and other aspects of Christian growth and development. It's time to challenge the often unwritten … Continue reading “Amen! Thanks Batgirl!” – Children With Additional Needs: Communion, Baptism And Serving
There are some big, deep, and in every other way large questions that often seem to crop up regarding disability and the Bible. Questions about sin, God and Heaven that brains much bigger than mine have grappled with, written theological theses on, published books about and more… But as I’ve been pondering a bit on this, … Continue reading Some Thoughts On Disability, Sin, God And ‘Heaven’
Disability ‘allies’ are people who are not necessarily disabled themselves, but who advocate for, journey with, campaign for, or in other ways support disabled people of any age. Allies (noun): A person or organisation that cooperates with or helps another in a particular activity. The Bible includes real and story-based people who could be viewed as … Continue reading Six Disability ‘Allies’ In The Bible, Which One Are You?
Sometimes we find teaching hidden in hard to reach places, sometimes important teaching is in plain sight but we overlook it… That was the case for me with the story of Mary and Martha until I took a closer look and found some great teaching for us all there about life in general, as well … Continue reading What The Story Of Mary And Martha Teaches Us About Disability
For many disabled people, and often for their families and other allies too, life can feel like being a candle in a hurricane of hate. So much intolerance, vitriol and aggression to deal with every single day from a society that, generally, would rather that disabled people were not around, out of sight, disappeared. Just … Continue reading A Candle In A Hurricane Of Hate
Working with the Methodist Church, Count Everyone In, and through Urban Saints and the Additional Needs Alliance, we've created a document to help churches support children, young people and young adults with additional needs to belong in every church. What should church be like for children, young people and young adults with additional needs and … Continue reading 10 Ways To Belong – A Resource For Every Church
It’s festival season, a time of year when across the country people are heading to events themed around everything from music to food, cars, sports or lifestyles. There are, of course, lots of Christian festivals and summer camps held at this time of year too, but how can these festivals be inclusive for children and … Continue reading Inclusive Festivals And Summer Camps
Sex and relationships is a hot topic in youth work at the moment, and rightly so when we see the mixed messages, confusing feelings and myriad questions that young people are dealing with every day. But for young people with additional needs this topic is often one that is considered to be irrelevant for them, … Continue reading Sex and Relationships: Young People with Special/Additional Needs
This question was recently asked by an eight-year-old autistic boy to his parents; it's a hard question to answer and the response that follows may not fit well with everyone, but then we are a diverse people so that is to be expected; so, here we go! Made in God’s image? Maybe a good starting … Continue reading A Child Asks, “Did God Make Me With Autism?”
Delightful Handmade Dog Products and Gifts
An additional needs Dad and Son baking adventure...
Special Education Teaching Resources, Sensory Stories and SEND Information
The Additional Needs Blogfather 