1. Denise Keegan & Linda Wray 12 April 2014 Breaking Barriers & Opening Doors Welcoming Children with Additional Needs

2. Luke 14: 21 - 23 “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame …… so that my house will be full.”

3. 0BJECTIVES Understand the range of emotions and attitudes expressed by a family Develop ideas for how families might benefit from ministry Look at ways of being Inclusive Understand your attitudes Learn what its like to be disabled

5. Barriers Architectural Attitudinal Communication Programmes/Activities

6. Definition of Disability “a physical or mental impairment, which has substantial and long term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”. N.B. long term= a period of more than 12 months. Ref: DDA (1995)

7. Definition of Special Needs (SEN) The term Special Educational Need is defined in the legislation as “a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provisions to be made”. “Learning difficulty” means that the child has significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of his age and/or has a disability which prevents or hinders his or her use of everyday educational facilities (or where the child is below school age would hinder such use if the child were of school age). Special Educational Provision – in addition to or otherwise different from the education provisions made for children of the same age in ordinary school.

8. What are Special Educational Needs? Cognitive and Learning Social, Emotional and Behavioural Physical Sensory impairments – hearing/visual difficulties Medical conditions/syndromes Communication and Interaction Other

9. Disability is not a choice – our attitude is. 345,000 disabled people. 1 in 5 disabled.

10. 650 million disabled people in the world Least educated Least able to access transportation Least employed, and therefore Poorest, and to our shame Least evangelised with the lowest proportion of church involvement

11. Understanding the unique problems of the family The child/young person Parents Siblings

12. INCLUSIVE ACTION Do you know children in your area who have additional needs? Would they want to come to your church/organisations? How would they get there? If the parents can drive, where would they park? How would they get in? Would they feel comfortable when they get in? Would they feel included in the worship? Could they see, hear, reach?

13. INCLUSIVE ACTION Are they included in other activities Would they be consulted about their needs? Would they be allowed to contribute to the spiritual life of the church? Would they be allowed to contribute to decision making in the church? Are they regarded as an asset? Has the Church discovered what people with additional needs find difficult about coming to church?

14. Welcoming Children with Additional Needs Practical pointers

15. Inclusion Gather Information Build up description of the child Buddy – 1:1 Training Work as a team

16. COMMUNICATION Eye contact Instructions short and simple Simple/familiar words Body language Pictures Print

17. Making it clear Colour Font style Font size

18. ENVIRONMENT Sound Lighting Heat/temperature Seating

19. ACTIVITIES Physical/games Craft Worksheets

20. 12 TOP TIPS Be focused Be a team Be flexible Be resourced Be multi-sensory Be clear and relevant Be informative Be aware Be big Be accessible Be discreet Be expectant

21. SCARED Safe Calm Affirmed Routine Empathy Develop a plan (for the next time)

22. Getting Started Information Assess Learn Love

23. General Tips Spiritual Needs Talk with parents Learn Use Visuals Experiment Stability/Routine Modify/Adapt

24. Our Responsibility for Action Treat as a person first Respect, protect and promote human rights Offer a choice Enable them to develop ability/potential Positively assist integration into the church family/community Be accessible

25. How we can offer support: Love Prayers Valuing Practical help In Church

26. “Carter” What are the concerns of : - The congregation in general The Sunday School teacher/Youth Leader The Minister What action would be appropriate

27. Some Examples Bloomfield PC – Autism group West Church Bangor – Sycamore Group Ballyrashane – Causeway Group Taughmonagh – Beehive Club Knock – Youth Club Harmony Hill – Seed Group Gardenmore – Sunday Club Moy – Youth Club

29. RESOURCES ORGANISATIONS

30. Challenging Issues - Disability

31. Board of Social Witness