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Faith Formation: Special Needs & Neurodiversity

Resources including: Children & Family Curricula & Storytime; Confirmation/Affirmation of Baptism; Denominational Resources; Tween & Teen Mental and Spiritual Health; Sexuality & Identity; and Online/At-Home Tech

Children's Books

     Addy's Chair to Everywhere     Apple and Magnolia: Laura Gehl, Patricia Metola: 9781947888357: Amazon.com:  Books          Bear's Bicycle          Big Truck Playdate     The Boy Who Grew Flowers     

     A Day with No Words     Picture of Different--A Great Thing to Be!      The Different Tree Trade Book (Paperback)    Elephant's Music: Filipina, Monika: 9781433835056: Amazon.com: Books     Emma's Awesome Summer Camp Adventure: A Charley and Emma Story          A Head Full of Birds     "How We Eat" font cover     Logan's Greenhouse          Connor and the Taekwondo Tournament     Nick and the Brick Builder Challenge     Violet and the Jurassic Land Exhibit     Main_lend_a_hand_cover     Mara Hears in Style               The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (And Their Parents)     "This Is My Body - I Get To Choose: An Introduction to Consent" cover     We Can                         

Addresses issues children might hear about in the news and may not understand; straightforward and kid-friendly explanations of tough topics; includes ideas for what they can do to help make the world a better, fairer place. Each book has a glossary and additional resources.

The series includes: Culture and Diversity; Rights and Equality; Protecting the Planet; and Rules and Responsibilities.

Books to Help Talk about Bullying     Picture Books that Celebrate Diversity     

Tweens & Teens Books

Diary of a Young Naturalist     Disability Visibility     Rolling Warrior     We Can

Chapter Books about Bullies, Bystanders, and Being Kind     Celebrate Diversity with Chapter Books

Adult Books

The Autism of Gxd          Dementia and the Church: Memory, Care, and Inclusion     Book - Paperback     Picture of Disability     Disability and the Church          Disability Visibility     Disability Visibility     Dutiful Love: Empowering Individuals and Families Affected by Mental Illness     Human Difference     Loving Our Own Bones     Magnificent Minds by Suzanne Goh, MD     My Body Is Not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church - Kindle  edition by Kenny, Amy. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.     Read This to Get Smarter     Scattered Minds by Gabor Maté, MD     Sincerely, Your Autistic Child          Small Talk by Richard Pink and Roxanne Pink     Touch the Future     Trauma-Informed Children’s Ministry     Picture of Views from the Spectrum     We're Not Broken

books that have helped my neurodiverse family thriveMy 15 Favorite Guide Books for Parenting Intense Neurodiverse Kids

Intense neurodivergent kids don’t come with a manual, but my family found harmony and joy with the help of these inclusive parenting books.

Blogs, Podcasts & Articles

person playing guitar by their computerBethany Fox: Including Those with Intellectual Disabilities

Beloved Everybody: a truly accessible church

Published

By Timothy Bowman

Bethany Fox is the founding leader of Beloved Everybody Church in Los Angeles, a church for people with and without developmental and intellectual disabilities. They seek to do church in a way that is accessible to people with a wide range of communication styles, learning styles, and abilities.

Gray ramp up to the entrance of a white building with a red roofDisability Is Not a Dirty Word

By Allison Bird Treacy (she/her/hers) / Nov. 13, 2023

'One clear manifestation of how our church communities address issues of access and inclusion is the presence—or, more often, absence—of ramps...'

Sensory room ideas 

NHS Sensory Processing Hub

Ways to deal with common sensory issues (Disclaimer: This one uses the term ‘problem’ in inappropriate and unhelpful ways. However, the suggestions for mitigating sensory perception issues to develop more enjoyable social interactions are worthwhile, especially for families with multiple children and/or when working with groups of children.)

Art and Identity on the Spectrum

What does creativity look like on the spectrum? We asked four autistic artists to show us how they would like to be seen.

By Michael Luong

Judicatory & Other Denominational Resources

Including Children with DisabilitiesThe UMC's Including Children with Disabilities in the Life of the Church is a wealth of resources, ideas, and practical applications.

In this resource, you will find information about:

  • Who Is Coming? Identifying Populations

  • Identifying the Needs of Exceptional Children

  • Identifying the Needs of Parents and Families

  • The Basics of Classroom Set-Up

  • The Basics of Classroom Management

  • The Basics of Adapting Curriculum and Activities

  • The Non-Negotiables for Including Those with Disabilities and Their Families

United Church of Christ Minnesota ConferenceThe MN Conference UCC Faith Formation Resources page includes resources for Talking with Children about Violence and Anti-Racism:

 

Anti-Racism

UMC Ministry with Children (fb) includes tips on empowering and listening to children the midst of pandemic and a list of resources for further mental and spiritual health and formation.

The PACER Center (pacer.org, 952-838-9000) is Minnesota’s primary parent resource for navigating the IEP and 504 process. They provide resources and staff to advise parents and professionals regarding their needs. Rev. Stephanie Friant, a member of the Disability Concerns Ministry and volunteer PACER Parent Leader, is trained and available to review IEPs with parents/guardians, assist with IEP meetings, and answer questions from church staff or contacts (815-592-3207, stephanieHfriant@gmail.com).

Trainings, Seminars, & Websites

Neurodiversity Training Handbook Resource Toolkit (Printed Version)Neurodiversity Training Handbook Resource Toolkit (Printed Version)

What's Included? 

  • 102 Page Neurodiversity Affirming Handbook 
    • 8  Page ND Affirming Care/Therapy Best Practices 
    • 12 Page Material Toolbox
    • 5  Page ND Affirming Principals & Challenging Behaviors 
    • 8  Page Parent Collaboration Information Pack 
    • 16 Page ND and the IEP (Accommodations and Goals) 

Get ready to dive into the "Handbook for Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices" – your new BFF in embracing and celebrating the beautiful spectrum of our students' brains.

Arc's virtual program library is a free hub of on-demand activities that can be done from home by people with disabilities, their families, and service providers.

Browse listings to find activities like:

  • Dance, yoga, and other movement activities 
  • Internet safety
  • Virtually touring places like Disney World and museums
  • Jeopardy templates
  • Self-advocacy support

Browse Arc's programs here.

In Our Library - Curriculum

Watering Can Press - Home Page     Teaching Helps     

In Our Library

Book cover of Accessible Gospel          Autism and Your Church - Barbara J Newman | Faith Alive Christian Resources          Child by Child: Supporting Children with Learning Differences and Their Families  -     By: Susan Richardson     Every Child Welcome     Including People with Disabilities in Faith Communities     Book cover shows colorful pinwheel     Front Cover Preview Image - 1 of 10 - On the Spectrum: Autism, Faith, and the Gifts of Neurodiversity          THE SPIRITUAL ART RAISING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES